[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 850 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                 S. 850

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  To extend the authorization of appropriations to the Department of 
 Veterans Affairs for purposes of awarding grants to veterans service 
     organizations for the transportation of highly rural veterans.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Highly Rural Veteran Transportation 
Program Extension Act''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO VETERANS SERVICE 
              ORGANIZATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF HIGHLY RURAL 
              VETERANS.

    Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health 
Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is 
amended by striking ``2020'' and inserting ``2021''.

SEC. 3. MAKING PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
              TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM FACILITIES OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Section 111A(a) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
            (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1)''.
    (b) Report Required.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than five years after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall submit to Congress a report on cost savings, performance, 
        and satisfaction of individuals, with respect to--
                    (A) the transport by the Secretary of individuals 
                under subsection (a) of section 111A of title 38, 
                United States Code; and
                    (B) the program the establishment of which was 
                facilitated under subsection (b) of such section.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include an assessment of the effect of emerging health care 
        modalities, including telehealth and VA Video Connect, on--
                    (A) the transport of individuals described in 
                paragraph (1)(A);
                    (B) the satisfaction of such individuals with 
                services described in section 111A(a) of title 38, 
                United States Code; and
                    (C) the program described in paragraph (1)(B).
            (3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    (A) Telehealth.--
                            (i) In general.--The term ``telehealth'' 
                        means the use of electronic information and 
                        telecommunications technologies to support and 
                        promote long-distance clinical health care, 
                        patient and professional health-related 
                        education, public health, and health 
                        administration.
                            (ii) Technologies.--For purposes of clause 
                        (i), telecommunications technologies include 
                        videoconferencing, the internet, streaming 
                        media, and terrestrial and wireless 
                        communications.
                    (B) VA video connect.--The term ``VA Video 
                Connect'' means the program of the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs to connect veterans with their health 
                care team from anywhere, using encryption to ensure a 
                secure and private session.
    (c) Technical Correction.--Section 111A(b) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``veterans' service organizations'' 
and inserting ``veterans service organizations''.

SEC. 4. MEDICAL EXAMINATION PROTOCOL FOR VOLUNTEER DRIVERS 
              PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAM OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR 
              VETERANS.

    Section 111A(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2)(A) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
the Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Program Extension Act, the 
Secretary shall develop and establish a national protocol for the 
administration of medical examinations for volunteer drivers to 
participate in the program described in paragraph (1).
    ``(B) In developing the protocol required by subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary shall consult with such persons as the Secretary determines 
have an interest in the program described in paragraph (1).
    ``(C)(i) The Secretary shall implement the protocol by first 
conducting a one-year pilot program using the protocol.
    ``(ii) After conducting the pilot program required by clause (i), 
the Secretary shall assess the pilot program and make such changes to 
the protocol as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(iii) After making changes to the protocol under clause (ii), the 
Secretary shall implement the protocol in phases during the course of 
one year.''.

SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES REPORT ON 
              TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR VETERANS.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a 
report on the program the establishment of which was facilitated under 
section 111A(b) of title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            (1) A description of the program described in subsection 
        (a), including descriptions of the following:
                    (A) The purpose of the program.
                    (B) The activities carried out under the program.
            (2) An assessment of the sufficiency of the program with 
        respect to the purpose of the program.
            (3) An assessment of the cost effectiveness of the program 
        in relation to alternatives.
            (4) An assessment of the health benefits for veterans who 
        have participated in the program.
            (5) An assessment of the sufficiency of staffing of 
        employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are 
        responsible for facilitating the maintenance of the program.
            (6) An assessment, with respect to the purpose of the 
        program, of the number of vehicles owned by and operating in 
        conjunction with the program.
            (7) An assessment of the awareness and usage of the program 
        by veterans and their families.
            (8) An assessment of other options for transportation under 
        the program, such as local taxi companies and ridesharing 
        programs such as Uber and Lyft.

            Passed the Senate July 30, 2020.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
116th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                 S. 850

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

  To extend the authorization of appropriations to the Department of 
 Veterans Affairs for purposes of awarding grants to veterans service 
     organizations for the transportation of highly rural veterans.