[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2792 Reported in House (RH)]






                                                 Union Calendar No. 146
107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2792

                          [Report No. 107-242]

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
 Veterans Affairs to make service dogs available to disabled veterans 
and to make various other improvements in health care benefits provided 
     by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 2, 2001

  Mr. Moran of Kansas (for himself, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, and Mr. 
   Simmons) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

                            October 16, 2001

Additional sponsors: Mr. Bass, Mr. Filner, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Simpson, 
    Mr. McKeon, Ms. Carson of Indiana, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. 
                  Pickering, Mr. Shows, and Mr. Thune

                            October 16, 2001

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on August 
                                2, 2001]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
 Veterans Affairs to make service dogs available to disabled veterans 
and to make various other improvements in health care benefits provided 
     by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Disabled Veterans 
Service Dog and Health Care Improvement Act of 2001''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

               TITLE I--VETERANS HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT

Sec. 101. Authorization for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide 
                            service dogs for disabled veterans.
Sec. 102. Maintenance of capacity for specialized treatment and 
                            rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans.
Sec. 103. Threshold for veterans health care eligibility means test to 
                            reflect locality cost-of-living variations.
Sec. 104. Assessment and report on special telephone services for 
                            veterans.
Sec. 105. Recodification of bereavement counseling authority and 
                            certain other health-related authorities.
Sec. 106. Extension of expiring collections authorities.

                TITLE II--CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES PROGRAM

Sec. 201. Chiropractic Service established in the Veterans Health 
                            Administration.
Sec. 202. Availability of chiropractic care to veterans.
Sec. 203. Chiropractic providers.
Sec. 204. Scope of services; enrollment.
Sec. 205. Training and information.
Sec. 206. Advisory committee.
Sec. 207. Implementation report.

              TITLE III--NATIONAL COMMISSION ON VA NURSING

Sec. 301. Establishment of Commission.
Sec. 302. Duties of Commission.
Sec. 303. Reports.
Sec. 304. Powers.
Sec. 305. Personnel matters.
Sec. 306. Termination of the Commission.



               TITLE I--VETERANS HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE 
              SERVICE DOGS FOR DISABLED VETERANS.

    (a) Authority.--Section 1714 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``seeing-eye or'' the first place 
                it appears;
                    (B) by striking ``who are entitled to disability 
                compensation'' and inserting ``who are enrolled under 
                section 1705 of this title'';
                    (C) by striking ``, and may pay'' and all that 
                follows through ``such seeing-eye or guide dogs''; and
                    (D) by striking ``handicap'' and inserting 
                ``disability''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(c) The Secretary may, in accordance with the priority specified 
in section 1705 of this title, provide--
            ``(1) service dogs trained for the aid of the hearing 
        impaired to veterans who are hearing impaired and are enrolled 
        under section 1705 of this title; and
            ``(2) service dogs trained for the aid of persons with 
        spinal cord injury or dysfunction or other chronic impairment 
        that substantially limits mobility to veterans with such 
        injury, dysfunction, or impairment who are enrolled under 
        section 1705 of this title.
    ``(d) In the case of a veteran provided a dog under subsection (b) 
or (c), the Secretary may pay travel and incidental expenses for that 
veteran under the terms and conditions set forth in section 111 of this 
title to and from the veteran's home for expenses incurred in becoming 
adjusted to the dog.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--
            (1) The heading for such section is amended to read as 
        follows:
``Sec. 1714. Fitting and training in use of prosthetic appliances; 
              guide dogs; service dogs''.
            (2) The item relating to such section in the table of 
        sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is 
        amended to read as follows:

``1714. Fitting and training in use of prosthetic appliances; guide 
                            dogs; service dogs.''.

SEC. 102. MAINTENANCE OF CAPACITY FOR SPECIALIZED TREATMENT AND 
              REHABILITATIVE NEEDS OF DISABLED VETERANS.

    (a) Maintenance of Capacity on a Service-Network Basis.--Section 
1706(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by inserting ``(and each 
                geographic service area of the Veterans Health 
                Administration)'' after ``ensure that the Department''; 
                and
                    (B) in clause (B), by inserting ``(and each 
                geographic service area of the Veterans Health 
                Administration)'' after ``overall capacity of the 
                Department''; and
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
        (4) and (5), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
        paragraphs (2) and (3):
    ``(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the capacity of the Department 
(and each geographic service area of the Veterans Health 
Administration) to provide for the specialized treatment and 
rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans (including veterans with 
spinal cord dysfunction, traumatic brain injury, blindness, prosthetics 
and sensory aids, and mental illness) within distinct programs or 
facilities shall be measured for seriously mentally ill veterans as 
follows (with all such data to be provided by geographic service area 
and totaled nationally):
            ``(A) For mental health intensive community-based care, the 
        number of discrete intensive care teams constituted to provide 
        such intensive services to seriously mentally ill veterans and 
        the number of veterans provided such care.
            ``(B) For opioid substitution programs and for traumatic 
        brain injury, the number of patients treated annually and the 
        amounts expended.
            ``(C) For dual-diagnosis patients, the number treated 
        annually and the amounts expended.
            ``(D) For substance abuse programs--
                    ``(i) the number of substance-use disorder beds 
                (whether hospital, nursing home, or other designated 
                beds) employed and the average bed occupancy of such 
                beds;
                    ``(ii) the percentage of unique patients admitted 
                directly to substance abuse outpatient care during the 
                fiscal year who had two or more additional visits to 
                specialized substance abuse outpatient care within 30 
                days of their first visit, with a comparison from 1996 
                until the date of the report;
                    ``(iii) the percentage of unique inpatients with 
                substance abuse diagnoses treated during the fiscal 
                year who had one or more specialized substance abuse 
                clinic visits within three days of their index 
                discharge, with a comparison from 1996 until the date 
                of the report; and
                    ``(iv) the percentage of unique outpatients seen in 
                a facility or service network during the fiscal year 
                who had one or more specialized substance abuse clinic 
                visits, with a comparison from 1996 until the date of 
                the report.
            ``(E) For mental health programs, the number and type of 
        staff that are available at each facility to provide 
        specialized mental health treatment, including satellite 
        clinics, outpatient programs, and community-based outpatient 
        clinics, with a trend line comparison from 1996 to the date of 
        the report.
            ``(F) The number of such clinics providing mental health 
        care, the number and type of mental health staff at each such 
        clinic, and the type of mental health programs at each such 
        clinic.
    ``(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), the capacity of the Department 
(and each geographic service area of the Veterans Health 
Administration) to provide for the specialized treatment and 
rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans within distinct programs or 
facilities shall be measured for veterans with spinal cord dysfunction, 
traumatic brain injury, blindness, or prosthetics and sensory aids as 
follows (with all such data to be provided by geographic service area 
and totaled nationally):
            ``(A) For spinal cord injury/dysfunction specialized 
        centers and for blind rehabilitation specialized centers, the 
        number of staffed beds and the number of full-time equivalent 
        employees assigned to provide care at such centers.
            ``(B) For prosthetics and sensory aids, the annual amount 
        expended.''.
    (b) Extension of Annual Report Requirement.--Paragraph (3) of such 
section, as so redesignated, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``April 1, 1999, April 1, 2000, and April 
        1, 2001'' and inserting ``April 1 of each year through 2004''; 
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The 
        accuracy of each such report shall be certified by, or 
        otherwise commented upon by, the Inspector General of the 
        Department.''.

SEC. 103. THRESHOLD FOR VETERANS HEALTH CARE ELIGIBILITY MEANS TEST TO 
              REFLECT LOCALITY COST-OF-LIVING VARIATIONS.

    (a) Revised Threshold.--Subsection (b) of section 1722 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b)(1) For purposes of subsection (a)(3), the income threshold 
applicable to a veteran is the amount determined under paragraph (2).
    ``(2) The amount determined under this paragraph for a veteran is 
the greater of the following:
            ``(A) For any calendar year after 2000--
                    ``(i) in the case of a veteran with no dependents, 
                $23,688, as adjusted under subsection (c); or
                    ``(ii) in the case of a veteran with one or more 
                dependents, $28,429, as so adjusted, plus $1,586, as so 
                adjusted, for each dependent in excess of one.
            ``(B) The amount in effect under the HUD Low Income Index 
        that is applicable in the area in which the veteran resides.
    ``(3) For purposes of paragraph (2)(B), the term `HUD Low Income 
Index' means the family income ceiling amounts determined by the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under section 3(b)(2) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)) for purposes 
of the determination of `low-income families' under that section.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--(1) Subsection (a)(3) of such section is 
amended by striking ``amount set forth in'' and inserting ``income 
threshold determined under''.
    (2) Subsection (c) of such section is amended by striking 
``subsection (b)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(2)(A)''.
    (d) Limitation on Resource Reallocations.-- Within the amount 
appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical care for 
each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006. The amount that would otherwise 
be allocated by the Secretary to any geographic service region of the 
Veterans Health Administration in accordance with the established 
resource allocation procedures of the Department may not be increased 
or decreased by more than 5 percent by reason of the implementation of 
this section.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on April 1, 2002.

SEC. 104. ASSESSMENT AND REPORT ON SPECIAL TELEPHONE SERVICES FOR 
              VETERANS.

    (a) Assessment of Current Services.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall carry out an assessment of all special telephone services 
for veterans (such as helplines and hotlines) provided by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. The assessment shall include the 
geographical coverage, availability, utilization, effectiveness, 
management, coordination, staffing, and cost of those services. As part 
of such assessment, the Secretary shall conduct a survey of veterans to 
measure their satisfaction with current special telephone services and 
the demand for additional services.
    (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
on the assessment carried out under subsection (a). The Secretary shall 
include in the report recommendations regarding any needed improvement 
to such services and recommendations regarding contracting for the 
performance of such services.

SEC. 105. RECODIFICATION OF BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING AUTHORITY AND 
              CERTAIN OTHER HEALTH-RELATED AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Statutory Reorganization.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in section 1701(6)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (B) and the sentence 
                following that subparagraph;
                    (B) by striking ``services--'' in the matter 
                preceding subparagraph (A) and inserting ``services, 
                the following:''; and
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(A) Surgical services.
            ``(B) Dental services and appliances as described in 
        sections 1710 and 1712 of this title.
            ``(C) Optometric and podiatric services.
            ``(D) Preventive health services.
            ``(E) In the case of a person otherwise receiving care or 
        services under this chapter--
                    ``(i) wheelchairs, artificial limbs, trusses, and 
                similar appliances;
                    ``(ii) special clothing made necessary by the 
                wearing of prosthetic appliances; and
                    ``(iii) such other supplies or services as the 
                Secretary determines to be reasonable and necessary.
            ``(F) Travel and incidental expenses pursuant to section 
        111 of this title.''; and
            (2) in section 1707--
                    (A) by inserting ``(a)'' at the beginning of the 
                text of the section; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) The Secretary may furnish sensori-neural aids only in 
accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Secretary.''.
    (b) Consolidation of Provisions Relating to Persons Other Than 
Veterans.--Such chapter is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new subchapter:

     ``SUBCHAPTER VIII--HEALTH CARE OF PERSONS OTHER THAN VETERANS

``Sec. 1782. Counseling, training, and mental health services for 
              immediate family members
    ``(a) Counseling for Family Members of Veterans Receiving Service-
Connected Treatment.--In the case of a veteran who is receiving 
treatment for a service-connected disability pursuant to paragraph (1) 
or (2) of section 1710(a) of this title, the Secretary shall provide to 
individuals described in subsection (c) such consultation, professional 
counseling, training, and mental health services as are necessary in 
connection with that treatment.
    ``(b) Counseling for Family Members of Veterans Receiving Non-
Service-Connected Treatment.--In the case of a veteran who is eligible 
to receive treatment for a non-service-connected disability under the 
conditions described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 1710(a) 
of this title, the Secretary may, in the discretion of the Secretary, 
provide to individuals described in subsection (c) such consultation, 
professional counseling, training, and mental health services as are 
necessary in connection with that treatment if--
            ``(1) those services were initiated during the veteran's 
        hospitalization; and
            ``(2) the continued provision of those services on an 
        outpatient basis is essential to permit the discharge of the 
        veteran from the hospital.
    ``(c) Eligible Individuals.--Individuals who may be provided 
services under this subsection are--
            ``(1) the members of the immediate family or the legal 
        guardian of a veteran; or
            ``(2) the individual in whose household such veteran 
        certifies an intention to live.
    ``(d) Travel and Transportation Authorized.--Services provided 
under subsections (a) and (b) may include, under the terms and 
conditions set forth in section 111 of this title, travel and 
incidental expenses of individuals described in subsection (c) in the 
case of--
            ``(1) a veteran who is receiving care for a service-
        connected disability; and
            ``(2) a dependent or survivor receiving care under the last 
        sentence of section 1783(b) of this title.
``Sec. 1783. Bereavement counseling
    ``(a) Deaths of Veterans.--In the case of an individual who was a 
recipient of services under section 1782 of this title at the time of 
the death of the veteran, the Secretary may provide bereavement 
counseling to that individual in the case of a death--
            ``(1) that was unexpected; or
            ``(2) that occurred while the veteran was participating in 
        a hospice program (or a similar program) conducted by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(b) Deaths In Active Service.--The Secretary may provide 
bereavement counseling to an individual who is a member of the 
immediate family of a member of the Armed Forces who dies in the active 
military, naval, or air service in the line of duty and under 
circumstances not due to the person's own misconduct.
    ``(c) Bereavement Counseling Defined.--For purposes of this 
section, the term `bereavement counseling' means such counseling 
services, for a limited period, as the Secretary determines to be 
reasonable and necessary to assist an individual with the emotional and 
psychological stress accompanying the death of another individual.
``Sec. 1784. Humanitarian care
    ``The Secretary may furnish hospital care or medical services as a 
humanitarian service in emergency cases, but the Secretary shall charge 
for such care and services at rates prescribed by the Secretary.''.
    (c) Transfer of CHAMPVA Section.--Section 1713 of such title is--
            (1) transferred to subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of such 
        title, as added by subsection (b), and inserted after the 
        subchapter heading;
            (2) redesignated as section 1781; and
            (3) amended by adding at the end of subsection (b) the 
        following new sentence: ``A dependent or survivor receiving 
        care under the preceding sentence shall be eligible for the 
        same medical services as a veteran, including services under 
        sections 1782 and 1783 of this title.''.
    (d) Repeal of Recodified Authority.--Section 1711 of such title is 
amended by striking subsection (b).
    (e) Cross Reference Amendments.--Such title is further amended as 
follows:
            (1) Section 103(d)(5)(B) is amended by striking ``1713'' 
        and inserting ``1781''.
            (2) Sections 1701(5) is amended by striking ``1713(b)'' in 
        subparagraphs (B) and (C)(i) and inserting ``1781(b)''.
            (3) Section 1712A(b) is amended--
                    (A) in the last sentence of paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``section 1711(b)'' and inserting ``section 
                1784''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``section 
                1701(6)(B)'' and inserting ``sections 1782 and 1783''.
            (4) Section 1729(f) is amended by striking ``section 
        1711(b)'' and inserting ``section 1784''.
            (5) Section 1729A(b) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph 
                (8); and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following 
                new paragraph (7):
            ``(7) Section 1784 of this title.''.
            (6) Section 8111(g) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``services under 
                sections 1782 and 1783 of this title'' after ``of this 
                title,''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``section 1711(b) 
                or 1713'' and inserting ``section 1782, 1783, or 
                1784''.
            (7) Section 8111A(a)(2) is amended by inserting ``, and the 
        term `medical services' includes services under sections 1782 
        and 1783 of this title'' before the period at the end.
            (8) Section 8152(1) is amended by inserting ``services 
        under sections 1782 and 1783 of this title,'' after ``of this 
        title),''.
            (9) Sections 8502(b), 8520(a), and 8521 are amended by 
        striking ``the last sentence of section 1713(b)'' and inserting 
        ``the penultimate sentence of section 1781(b)''.
    (f) Clerical Amendments.--
            (1) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
        is amended--
                    (A) by striking the item relating to section 1707 
                and inserting the following:

``1707. Limitations.'';
                    (B) by striking the item relating to section 1713; 
                and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:

     ``subchapter viii--health care of persons other than veterans

``1781. Medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans.
``1782. Counseling, training, and mental health services for immediate 
                            family members.
``1783. Bereavement counseling.
``1784. Humanitarian care.''.
            (2) The heading for section 1707 is amended to read as 
        follows:
``Sec. 1707. Limitations''.

SEC. 106. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING COLLECTIONS AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Health Care Copayments.--Section 1710(f)(2)(B) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``September 30, 2002'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2007''.
    (b) Medical Care Cost Recovery.--Section 1729(a)(2)(E) of such 
title is amended by striking ``October 1, 2002'' and inserting 
``October 1, 2007''.

                    TITLE II--CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES

SEC. 201. CHIROPRACTIC SERVICE ESTABLISHED IN THE VETERANS HEALTH 
              ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) New Service in Veterans Health Administration.--Section 7305 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new 
        paragraph (7):
            ``(7) A Chiropractic Service.''.
    (b) Director.--Section 7306(a) of such title--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (10) as 
        paragraphs (8) through (11), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new 
        paragraph (7):
            ``(7) A Director of Chiropractic Service, who shall be a 
        qualified doctor of chiropractic and who shall be responsible 
        to the Secretary for the operation of the Chiropractic 
        Service.''.

SEC. 202. AVAILABILITY OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE TO VETERANS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish a program to provide chiropractic care to veterans through 
all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.
    (b) Implementation.--The program under this section shall be 
implemented at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers as 
follows:
            (1) At not less than 30 medical centers by the end of 
        fiscal year 2002.
            (2) At not less than 60 medical centers by the end of 
        fiscal year 2003,
            (3) At not less than 90 medical centers by the end of 
        fiscal year 2004.
            (4) At not less than 120 medical centers by the end of 
        fiscal year 2005.
            (5) At all of the Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
        centers by the end of fiscal year 2006.
    (c) Initial Participating Medical Centers.--The initial 30 medical 
centers at which the program is to be carried out shall be designated 
by the Secretary not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. In designating those medical centers, the Secretary shall 
select medical centers to reflect geographic diversity, facilities of 
various size and capabilities, and the range of services in the 
Department health care system.

SEC. 203. CHIROPRACTIC PROVIDERS.

    The program under section 202 shall be carried out through personal 
service contracts and with appointments of licensed chiropractors for 
delivery of chiropractic services at Department of Veterans Affairs 
medical centers.

SEC. 204. SCOPE OF SERVICES; ENROLLMENT.

    (a) Scope of Services.--The chiropractic services provided under 
section 202 shall include, at a minimum, care for neuro-musculoskeletal 
conditions.
    (b) Enrollment.--A veteran enrolled under section 1705 of title 38, 
United States Code, may, as part of such enrollment, choose a 
chiropractor as the veteran's primary care provider. A veteran with a 
primary care provider other than a chiropractor may be referred to 
chiropractic services for neuro-musculoskeletal conditions by a medical 
provider.

SEC. 205. TRAINING AND INFORMATION.

    (a) Primary Care Teams.--The Secretary shall provide training and 
materials relating to chiropractic services to members of Department 
health care providers assigned to primary care teams for the purposes 
of familiarizing those providers with the benefits of appropriate use 
of chiropractic services.
    (b) Future Program Sites.--During the period covered by section 
202(b), the Secretary shall provide materials relating to chiropractic 
services to medical centers and other health care facilities of the 
Department not yet participating in the program in order to ensure that 
health care providers at those facilities are aware of chiropractic 
care as a future referral source.
    (c) Approval of Materials.--The Secretary may approve materials to 
be furnished under subsections (a) and (b) only after consulting with, 
and receiving the views of, the advisory committee established under 
section 206.

SEC. 206. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory 
committee to review implementation of the program under this title.
    (b) Members.--In appointing the members of the advisory committee, 
the Secretary shall include on the advisory committee--
            (1) members of the chiropractic profession;
            (2) persons who are experts in human resources appointments 
        in the Federal service;
            (3) persons with expertise in academic matters;
            (4) persons with knowledge of credentialing and the 
        granting of professional privileging to health care 
        practitioners; and
            (5) other persons as determined necessary by the Secretary 
        and the functional needs of the advisory committee in 
        establishing the chiropractic health program.
    (c) Functions.--The advisory committee shall provide advice to the 
Secretary on--
            (1) the granting of professional privileges for 
        chiropractors at Department medical centers;
            (2) the scope of practice of chiropractors at Department 
        medical centers;
            (3) training materials; and
            (4) such other matters as are determined appropriate by the 
        Secretary.

SEC. 207. IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.

    Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans Affairs 
of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the 
implementation of this title.

              TITLE III--NATIONAL COMMISSION ON VA NURSING

SEC. 301. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established in the Department 
of Veterans Affairs a commission to be known as the ``National 
Commission on VA Nursing'' (hereinafter in this title referred to as 
the ``Commission'').
    (b) Composition.--(1) The Commission shall be composed of 12 
members.
    (2) Eleven members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, as follows:
            (A) Three shall be recognized representatives of employees, 
        including nurses, of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (B) Three shall be representatives of professional 
        associations of nurses of the Department or similar 
        organizations affiliated with the Department's health care 
        practitioners.
            (C) Two shall be representatives of trade associations 
        representing the nursing profession.
            (D) Two shall be nurses from nursing schools affiliated 
        with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (E) One shall be a representative of veterans.
    (3) The Nurse Executive of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall 
be an ex officio member of the Commission.
    (d) Chairman of Commission.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall designate one of the members of the Commission to serve as 
chairman of the Commission.
    (e) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be appointed 
for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall be 
filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
    (f) Initial Organization Requirements.--All appointments to the 
Commission shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. The Commission shall convene its first meeting 
not later than 60 days after the date as of which all members of the 
Commission have been appointed.

SEC. 302. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Assessment.--The Commission shall--
            (1) consider legislative and organizational policy changes 
        to enhance the recruitment and retention of nurses by the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs; and
            (2) assess the future of the nursing profession within the 
        Department.
    (b) Recommendation.--The Commission shall recommend legislative and 
organizational policy changes to enhance the recruitment and retention 
of nurses in the Department.

SEC. 303. REPORTS.

    (a) Commission Report.--The Commission shall, not later than two 
years after the date of its first meeting, submit to Congress and the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs a report on the Commission's findings and 
conclusions.
    (b) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Report.--Not later than 60 days 
after the date of the Commission's report under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report--
            (1) providing the Secretary's views on the Commission's 
        findings and conclusions; and
            (2) explaining what actions, if any, the Secretary intends 
        to take to implement the recommendations of the Commission and 
        the Secretary's reasons for doing so.

SEC. 304. POWERS.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission or, at its direction, any panel or 
member of the Commission, may, for the purpose of carrying out the 
provisions of this title, hold hearings and take testimony to the 
extent that the Commission or any member considers advisable.
    (b) Information.--The Commission may secure directly from any 
Federal department or agency information that the Commission considers 
necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
under this title.

SEC. 305. PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Pay of Members.--Members of the Commission shall serve without 
pay by reason of their work on the Commission.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes 
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the 
Commission.
    (c) Staff.--(1) The Secretary may, without regard to the provisions 
of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 
competitive service, appoint a staff director and such additional 
personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its 
duties.
    (2) The Secretary may fix the pay of the staff director and other 
personnel appointed under paragraph (1) without regard to the 
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, 
United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General 
Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay fixed under this 
paragraph for the staff director may not exceed the rate payable for 
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title and 
the rate of pay for other personnel may not exceed the maximum rate 
payable for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule.
    (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the Secretary, 
the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a 
nonreimbursable basis, any personnel of that department or agency to 
the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties.

SEC. 306. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date of the 
submission of its report under section 303(a).




                                                 Union Calendar No. 146

107th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 2792

                          [Report No. 107-242]

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                                 A BILL

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
 Veterans Affairs to make service dogs available to disabled veterans 
and to make various other improvements in health care benefits provided 
     by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            October 16, 2001

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed