[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE AMENDMENTS OF 1994

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 386, S. 1226, 
relating to readjustment counseling services for veterans.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1226), to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
     provide for the organization and administration of the 
     Readjustment Counseling Service, to improve eligibility for 
     readjustment counseling and related counseling, and for other 
     purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, with 
an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and inserting in 
lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Readjustment Counseling 
     Service Amendments of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE 
                   IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--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 Readjustment Counseling Service.''.
       (b) Organization.--The Readjustment Counseling Service 
     shall have the organizational structure and administrative 
     structure of that service as such structures were in 
     existence on January 1, 1993.
       (c) Revision of Organizational Structure.--(1) The 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not alter or revise the 
     organizational structure or the administrative structure of 
     the Readjustment Counseling Service until--
       (A) the Secretary has submitted to the Committees on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
     a report containing a full and complete statement of the 
     proposed alteration or revision; and
       (B) a period of 60 days has elapsed after the date on which 
     the report is received by the committees.
       (2) In the computation of the 60-day period under paragraph 
     (1)(B), there shall be excluded any day on which either House 
     of Congress is not in session because of an adjournment of 
     more than 3 calendar days to a day certain.
       (d) Budget Information Relating to the Service.--Each 
     budget submitted to Congress by the President under section 
     1105 of title 31, United States Code, shall set forth the 
     amount requested in the budget for the operation of the 
     Readjustment Counseling Service in the fiscal year covered by 
     the budget and shall set forth separately the amount 
     requested for administrative oversight of the activities of 
     the service (including the amount requested for funding of 
     the Advisory Committee on Readjustment of Veterans).

     SEC. 3. DIRECTOR OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE.

       (a) Director.--Section 7306(b) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
       (2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (3) 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) one shall be a person who (A)(i) is a qualified 
     psychiatrist, (ii) is a qualified psychologist holding a 
     diploma as a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology 
     from an authority approved by the American Psychological 
     Association and has successfully undergone an internship 
     approved by that association, (iii) is a qualified holder of 
     a master in social work degree, or (iv) is a registered nurse 
     holding a master of science in nursing degree in psychiatric 
     nursing or any other mental-health related degree approved by 
     the Secretary, and (B) has at least 3 years of clinical 
     experience and 2 years of administrative experience in the 
     Readjustment Counseling Service or other comparable mental 
     health care counseling service (as determined by the 
     Secretary), who shall be the director of the Readjustment 
     Counseling Service.''.
       (b) Status of Director.--Section 7306(a)(3) of such title 
     is amended by striking out ``eight'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``nine''.
       (c) Organizational Requirement.--The Director of the 
     Readjustment Counseling Service shall report to the Under 
     Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     through the Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Health for 
     Clinical Programs.

     SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELING 
                   AND CERTAIN RELATED COUNSELING SERVICES.

       (a) Readjustment Counseling.--(1) Subsection (a) of section 
     1712A of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(a)(1)(A) Upon the request of any veteran referred to in 
     subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
     furnish counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in 
     readjusting to civilian life.
       ``(B) A veteran referred to in subparagraph (A) of this 
     paragraph is any veteran who--
       ``(i) served on active duty during the Vietnam era; or
       ``(ii) served on active military, naval, or air service in 
     a theater of combat operations (as determined by the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense) 
     during a period of war or in any other area during a period 
     in which hostilities (as defined in subparagraph (D) of this 
     paragraph) occurred in such area.
       ``(C) Upon the request of any veteran other than a veteran 
     referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the 
     Secretary may furnish counseling to the veteran to assist the 
     veteran in readjusting to civilian life.
       ``(D) For the purposes of subparagraph (A) of this 
     paragraph, the term `hostilities' means an armed conflict in 
     which the members of the Armed Forces are subjected to danger 
     comparable to the danger to which members of the Armed Forces 
     have been subjected in combat with enemy armed forces during 
     a period of war, as determined by the Secretary in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense.
       ``(2) The counseling referred to in paragraph (1) shall 
     include a general mental and psychological assessment of a 
     covered veteran to ascertain whether such veteran has mental 
     or psychological problems associated with readjustment to 
     civilian life.''.
       (2) Subsection (c) of such section is repealed.
       (b) Other Counseling.--Such section is further amended by 
     inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection 
     (c):
       ``(c)(1) The Secretary shall provide the counseling 
     services described in section 1701(6)(B)(ii) of this title to 
     the surviving parents, spouse, and children of any member of 
     the Armed Forces who is killed during service on active 
     military, naval, or air service in a theater of combat 
     operations (as determined by the Secretary, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Defense) during a period of war or in 
     any other area during a period in which hostilities (as 
     defined in subsection (a)(1)(D) of this section) occurred in 
     such area.
       ``(2) The Secretary may provide the counseling services 
     referred to in paragraph (1) to the surviving parents, 
     spouse, and children of any member of the Armed Forces who 
     dies while serving on active duty or from a condition (as 
     determined by the Secretary) incurred in or aggravated by 
     such service.''.
       (c) Authority To Contract for Counseling Services.--
     Subsection (e) of such section is amended by striking out 
     ``subsections (a) and (b)'' each place it appears and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``subsections (a), (b), and (c)''.

     SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE READJUSTMENT OF VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
     1712B the following:

     ``Sec. 1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of 
       Veterans

       ``(a)(1) There is in the Department the Advisory Committee 
     on the Readjustment of Veterans (hereafter in this section 
     referred to as the `Committee').
       ``(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 18 
     members appointed by the Secretary from among veterans who--
       ``(A) have demonstrated significant civic or professional 
     achievement; and
       ``(B) have experience with the provision of veterans 
     benefits and services by the Department.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall seek to ensure that members 
     appointed to the Committee include persons from a wide 
     variety of geographic areas and ethnic backgrounds, persons 
     from veterans service organizations, and women.
       ``(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service 
     and pay and allowances of the members of the Committee, 
     except that a term of service may not exceed 2 years. The 
     Secretary may reappoint any member for additional terms of 
     service.
       ``(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult 
     with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the 
     provision by the Department of benefits and services to 
     veterans in order to assist veterans in the readjustment to 
     civilian life.
       ``(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under this 
     subsection, the Committee shall--
       ``(i) assemble and review information relating to the needs 
     of veterans in readjusting to civilian life;
       ``(ii) provide information relating to the nature and 
     character of psychological problems arising from service in 
     the Armed Forces;
       ``(iii) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness 
     of the policies, organizational structures, and services of 
     the Department in assisting veterans in readjusting to 
     civilian life; and
       ``(iv) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate 
     means of responding to the readjustment needs of veterans in 
     the future.
       ``(B) In carrying out its duties under subparagraph (A), 
     the Committee shall take into special account veterans of the 
     Vietnam era, and the readjustment needs of such veterans.
       ``(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the 
     Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the 
     programs and activities of the Department that relate to the 
     readjustment of veterans to civilian life. Each such report 
     shall include--
       ``(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans with respect 
     to readjustment to civilian life;
       ``(B) a review of the programs and activities of the 
     Department designed to meet such needs; and
       ``(C) such recommendations (including recommendations for 
     administrative and legislative action) as the Committee 
     considers appropriate.
       ``(2) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of each 
     report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to 
     the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
     of Representatives a copy of the report, together with any 
     comments and recommendations concerning the report that the 
     Secretary considers appropriate.
       ``(3) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such 
     other reports and recommendations as the Committee considers 
     appropriate.
       ``(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual report 
     submitted to the Congress pursuant to section 529 of this 
     title a summary of all reports and recommendations of the 
     Committee submitted to the Secretary since the previous 
     annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to that 
     section.
       ``(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
     App.) shall apply to the activities of the Committee under 
     this section.
       ``(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the 
     Committee.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of 
     such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
     section 1712B the following:

``1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans.''.

       (b) Original Members.--(1) Notwithstanding subsection 
     (a)(2) of section 1712C of such title (as added by subsection 
     (a)), the members of the Advisory Committee on the 
     Readjustment of Vietnam and Other War Veterans on the date of 
     the enactment of this Act shall be the original members of 
     the advisory committee recognized under such section.
       (2) The original members shall so serve until the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs carries out appointments under such 
     subsection (a)(2). The Secretary shall carry out such 
     appointments as soon after such date as is practicable. The 
     Secretary may make such appointments from among such original 
     members.

     SEC. 6. PLAN FOR EXPANSION OF VIETNAM VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER 
                   PILOT PROGRAM.

       (a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and House of Representatives a plan for the expansion 
     of the Vietnam Veteran Resource Center program established 
     pursuant to the amendment made by section 105 of the 
     Veterans' Administration Health-Care Amendments of 1985 
     (Public Law 99-166; 99 Stat. 944). The plan shall include a 
     schedule for, and an assessment of the cost of, the 
     implementation of the program at or through all Department of 
     Veterans Affairs readjustment counseling centers.
       (2) The Secretary shall submit the plan not later than 4 
     months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Department of 
     Veterans Affairs readjustment counseling centers'' has the 
     same meaning given the term ``center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) 
     of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 7. REPORT ON COLLOCATION OF VET CENTERS AND DEPARTMENT 
                   OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINICS.

       (a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and House of Representatives a report on the 
     feasibility and desirability of the collocation of Vet 
     Centers and outpatient clinics (including rural mobile 
     clinics) of the Department of Veterans Affairs as current 
     leases for such centers and clinics expire.
       (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 6 
     months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Covered Matters.--The report under this section shall 
     include an assessment of the following:
       (1) The results of any collocation of Vet Centers and 
     outpatient clinics carried out by the Secretary before the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, including the effects of 
     such collocation on the quality of care provided at such 
     centers and clinics.
       (2) The effect of such collocation on the capacity of such 
     centers to carry out their primary mission.
       (3) The extent to which such collocation will impair the 
     operational independence or administrative integrity of such 
     centers.
       (4) The feasibility of combining the services provided by 
     such centers and clinics in the course of the collocation of 
     such centers and clinics.
       (5) The advisability of the collocation of centers and 
     clinics of significantly different size.
       (6) The effect of the locations (including urban and rural 
     locations) of the centers and clinics on the feasibility and 
     desirability of such collocation.
       (7) The amount of any costs savings to be achieved by 
     Department as a result of such collocation.
       (8) The desirability of such collocation in light of plans 
     for the provision of health care services by the Department 
     under national health care reform.
       (9) Any other matters that the Secretary determines 
     appropriate.

     SEC. 8. VET CENTER HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     carry out a pilot program for the provision of health-related 
     services to eligible veterans at readjustment counseling 
     centers. The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program in 
     accordance with this section.
       (b) Services.--(1) In carrying out the pilot program, the 
     Secretary shall provide the services referred to in paragraph 
     (2) at not less than 10 readjustment counseling centers in 
     existence on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) The Secretary shall provide basic ambulatory services 
     and health care screening services by such personnel as the 
     Secretary considers appropriate at each readjustment 
     counseling center under the pilot program. The Secretary 
     shall assign not less than one-half of a full-time employee 
     equivalent at each such center in order to provide such 
     services under the pilot program.
       (3) In determining the location of the readjustment 
     counseling centers at which to provide services under the 
     pilot program, the Secretary shall select centers that are 
     located in a variety of geographic areas and that serve 
     veterans of a variety of economic, social, and ethnic 
     backgrounds.
       (c) Period of Operation.--(1) The Secretary shall commence 
     the provision of health-related services at readjustment 
     counseling centers under the pilot program not later than 4 
     months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) The pilot program shall terminate 2 years after the 
     date on which the Secretary commences the provision of 
     services under paragraph (1).
       (d) Report.--(1) The Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the pilot program established under this section. 
     The report shall include the following:
       (A) A description of the program, including information 
     on--
       (i) the number of veterans provided basic ambulatory 
     services and health care screening services under the pilot 
     program;
       (ii) the number of such veterans referred to Department of 
     Veterans Affairs general health-care facilities in order to 
     provide such services to such veterans; and
       (iii) the cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs of the 
     pilot program.
       (B) An analysis of the effectiveness of the services 
     provided to veterans under the pilot program.
       (C) The recommendations of the Secretary for means of 
     improving the pilot program, and an estimate of the cost to 
     the Department of implementing such recommendations.
       (D) An assessment of the desirability of expanding the type 
     or nature of services provided under the pilot program in 
     light of plans for the provision of health care services by 
     the Department under national health care reform.
       (E) An assessment of the extent to which the provision of 
     services under the pilot program impairs the operational or 
     administrative independence of the readjustment counseling 
     centers at which such services are provided.
       (F) An assessment of the effect of the location of the 
     centers on the effectiveness for the Department and for 
     veterans of the services provided under the pilot program.
       (G) Such other information as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 18 
     months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
       (1) The term ``Department of Veterans Affairs general 
     health-care facility'' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 1712A(i)(2) of title 38, United States Code.
       (2) The term ``eligible veteran'' means any veteran 
     eligible for outpatient services under paragraph (1), (2), or 
     (3) of section 1712(a) of such title.
       (3) The term ``readjustment counseling center'' has the 
     same meaning given the term ``center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) 
     of such title.


                           amendment no. 1596

  (Purpose: To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide 
counseling to family members of individuals who are prisoners of war or 
                       who are missing in action)

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Leahy, I send an 
amendment to the desk, ask for its immediate consideration, and I ask 
unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to; that the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table; that the committee substitute, as 
amended, be agreed to; that the bill be deemed read a third time, 
passed; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; and that 
any statements appear at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the amendment (No. 1596) was agreed to, as follows:

       On page 20, strike out line 20 and insert in lieu thereof 
     the following:

     by such service.
       ``(3) The Secretary may provide to the parents, spouse, and 
     children of any member of the Armed Forces who (as determined 
     by the Secretary) is a prisoner of war, or is missing in 
     action, such counseling as the Secretary determines 
     appropriate to assist such persons with the mental or 
     psychological problems associated with the status of such 
     member as a prisoner of war or as missing in action, as the 
     case may be.''.

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am proud to offer an amendment to S. 1226 
that extends bereavement counseling services to the families of 
prisoners-of-war and those missing-in-action. Our Government has an 
obligation to help these families cope with the emotions surrounding 
the uncertain fate of their loved ones.
  While our Government officially acknowledges that only one service 
person is still missing from the conflict in southeast Asia, thousands 
of family members do not know with certainty what happened to their 
loved ones. When these doubts remain about the final fate of loved 
ones, family members can find it difficult to heal.
  It has been 18 years since the end of the Vietnam war. During this 
time family members of POW and MIAs have suffered great emotional and 
psychological distress. I have been contacted by many POW/MIA family 
members in Vermont who have been trying to find out what happened. What 
had happened to their father or their son or their brother?
  You can read stories in any paper over the past 18 years about 
sightings of Americans in southeast Asia or stories about the Korean 
war POWs--stories that have reopened emotional wounds for the families 
whose loved ones were left behind. Many family members understandably 
need assistance to cope with these feelings.
  In recent years the U.S. Government has made significant progress in 
repatriating the remains of servicemen from both Vietnam and Korea and 
releasing information to family members of those whose fate is still 
unknown. On Veterans Day, last year, President Clinton could proudly 
state that virtually all Vietnam War POW/MIA documents had been 
declassified. Despite this progress, there is still so much more that 
needs to be done. I will continue to support efforts to locate the 
remains of all of the POW/MIA from past wars.
  Finally, Mr. President, I applaud Senator Akaka for his efforts to 
improve counseling services for our veterans. The legislation before 
the Senate today takes our vet center program into a new era by 
expanding eligibility and services.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I support the amendment offered by my good 
friend and colleague from Vermont [Mr. Leahy] to the pending 
legislation, S. 1226, the ``Readjustment Counseling Service Amendments 
of 1994.''
  As you know, one of the provisions of S. 1226 calls for Vet Centers 
to offer bereavement counseling services to the families of those 
service members who die in combat or as a result of service-connected 
conditions. Unfortunately, in drafting the original legislation, I 
inadvertently excluded eligibility for these counseling services for 
the families of prisoners-of-war and those missing-in-action. The Leahy 
amendment would correct this oversight by making the survivors of POW's 
and MIA's fully eligible for the bereavement services that would be 
provided by Vet Center counselors under S. 1226.
  Mr. President, I strongly support the Leahy amendment. It materially 
improves the underlying legislation, is consistent with our obligation 
to assist those who have worn the uniform, and is fully supported by 
the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I commend the Senator from Vermont for 
his vigilance in protecting the interests of those who have yet to 
return from war. I urge adoption of this measure.
  So the bill (S. 1226), as amended, was deemed read a third time and 
passed, as follows:

                                S. 1226

       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 ``Readjustment Counseling 
     Service Amendments of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE 
                   IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--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 Readjustment Counseling Service.''.
       (b) Organization.--The Readjustment Counseling Service 
     shall have the organizational structure and administrative 
     structure of that service as such structures were in 
     existence on January 1, 1993.
       (c) Revision of Organizational Structure.--(1) The 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not alter or revise the 
     organizational structure or the administrative structure of 
     the Readjustment Counseling Service until--
       (A) the Secretary has submitted to the Committees on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
     a report containing a full and complete statement of the 
     proposed alteration or revision; and
       (B) a period of 60 days has elapsed after the date on which 
     the report is received by the committees.
       (2) In the computation of the 60-day period under paragraph 
     (1)(B), there shall be excluded any day on which either House 
     of Congress is not in session because of an adjournment of 
     more than 3 calendar days to a day certain.
       (d) Budget Information Relating to the Service.--Each 
     budget submitted to Congress by the President under section 
     1105 of title 31, United States Code, shall set forth the 
     amount requested in the budget for the operation of the 
     Readjustment Counseling Service in the fiscal year covered by 
     the budget and shall set forth separately the amount 
     requested for administrative oversight of the activities of 
     the service (including the amount requested for funding of 
     the Advisory Committee on Readjustment of Veterans).

     SEC. 3. DIRECTOR OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE.

       (a) Director.--Section 7306(b) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
       (2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (3) 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) one shall be a person who (A)(i) is a qualified 
     psychiatrist, (ii) is a qualified psychologist holding a 
     diploma as a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology 
     from an authority approved by the American Psychological 
     Association and has successfully undergone an internship 
     approved by that association, (iii) is a qualified holder of 
     a master in social work degree, or (iv) is a registered nurse 
     holding a master of science in nursing degree in psychiatric 
     nursing or any other mental-health related degree approved by 
     the Secretary, and (B) has at least 3 years of clinical 
     experience and 2 years of administrative experience in the 
     Readjustment Counseling Service or other comparable mental 
     health care counseling service (as determined by the 
     Secretary), who shall be the director of the Readjustment 
     Counseling Service.''.
       (b) Status of Director.--Section 7306(a)(3) of such title 
     is amended by striking out ``eight'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``nine''.
       (c) Organizational Requirement.--The Director of the 
     Readjustment Counseling Service shall report to the Under 
     Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     through the Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Health for 
     Clinical Programs.

     SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELING 
                   AND CERTAIN RELATED COUNSELING SERVICES.

       (a) Readjustment Counseling.--(1) Subsection (a) of section 
     1712A of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(a)(1)(A) Upon the request of any veteran referred to in 
     subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
     furnish counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in 
     readjusting to civilian life.
       ``(B) A veteran referred to in subparagraph (A) of this 
     paragraph is any veteran who--
       ``(i) served on active duty during the Vietnam era; or
       ``(ii) served on active military, naval, or air service in 
     a theater of combat operations (as determined by the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense) 
     during a period of war or in any other area during a period 
     in which hostilities (as defined in subparagraph (D) of this 
     paragraph) occurred in such area.
       ``(C) Upon the request of any veteran other than a veteran 
     referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the 
     Secretary may furnish counseling to the veteran to assist the 
     veteran in readjusting to civilian life.
       ``(D) For the purposes of subparagraph (A) of this 
     paragraph, the term `hostilities' means an armed conflict in 
     which the members of the Armed Forces are subjected to danger 
     comparable to the danger to which members of the Armed Forces 
     have been subjected in combat with enemy armed forces during 
     a period of war, as determined by the Secretary in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense.
       ``(2) The counseling referred to in paragraph (1) shall 
     include a general mental and psychological assessment of a 
     covered veteran to ascertain whether such veteran has mental 
     or psychological problems associated with readjustment to 
     civilian life.''.
       (2) Subsection (c) of such section is repealed.
       (b) Other Counseling.--Such section is further amended by 
     inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection 
     (c):
       ``(c)(1) The Secretary shall provide the counseling 
     services described in section 1701(6)(B)(ii) of this title to 
     the surviving parents, spouse, and children of any member of 
     the Armed Forces who is killed during service on active 
     military, naval, or air service in a theater of combat 
     operations (as determined by the Secretary, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Defense) during a period of war or in 
     any other area during a period in which hostilities (as 
     defined in subsection (a)(1)(D) of this section) occurred in 
     such area.
       ``(2) The Secretary may provide the counseling services 
     referred to in paragraph (1) to the surviving parents, 
     spouse, and children of any member of the Armed Forces who 
     dies while serving on active duty or from a condition (as 
     determined by the Secretary) incurred in or aggravated by 
     such service.
       ``(3) The Secretary may provide to the parents, spouse, and 
     children of any member of the Armed Forces who (as determined 
     by the Secretary) is a prisoner of war, or is missing in 
     action, such counseling as the Secretary determines 
     appropriate to assist such persons with the mental or 
     psychological problems associated with the status of such 
     member as a prisoner of war or as missing in action, as the 
     case may be.''.
       (c) Authority To Contract for Counseling Services.--
     Subsection (e) of such section is amended by striking out 
     ``subsections (a) and (b)'' each place it appears and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``subsections (a), (b), and (c)''.

     SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE READJUSTMENT OF VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
     1712B the following:

     ``Sec. 1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of 
       Veterans

       ``(a)(1) There is in the Department the Advisory Committee 
     on the Readjustment of Veterans (hereafter in this section 
     referred to as the `Committee').
       ``(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 18 
     members appointed by the Secretary from among veterans who--
       ``(A) have demonstrated significant civic or professional 
     achievement; and
       ``(B) have experience with the provision of veterans 
     benefits and services by the Department.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall seek to ensure that members 
     appointed to the Committee include persons from a wide 
     variety of geographic areas and ethnic backgrounds, persons 
     from veterans service organizations, and women.
       ``(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service 
     and pay and allowances of the members of the Committee, 
     except that a term of service may not exceed 2 years. The 
     Secretary may reappoint any member for additional terms of 
     service.
       ``(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult 
     with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the 
     provision by the Department of benefits and services to 
     veterans in order to assist veterans in the readjustment to 
     civilian life.
       ``(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under this 
     subsection, the Committee shall--
       ``(i) assemble and review information relating to the needs 
     of veterans in readjusting to civilian life;
       ``(ii) provide information relating to the nature and 
     character of psychological problems arising from service in 
     the Armed Forces;
       ``(iii) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness 
     of the policies, organizational structures, and services of 
     the Department in assisting veterans in readjusting to 
     civilian life; and
       ``(iv) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate 
     means of responding to the readjustment needs of veterans in 
     the future.
       ``(B) In carrying out its duties under subparagraph (A), 
     the Committee shall take into special account veterans of the 
     Vietnam era, and the readjustment needs of such veterans.
       ``(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the 
     Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the 
     programs and activities of the Department that relate to the 
     readjustment of veterans to civilian life. Each such report 
     shall include--
       ``(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans with respect 
     to readjustment to civilian life;
       ``(B) a review of the programs and activities of the 
     Department designed to meet such needs; and
       ``(C) such recommendations (including recommendations for 
     administrative and legislative action) as the Committee 
     considers appropriate.
       ``(2) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of each 
     report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to 
     the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
     of Representatives a copy of the report, together with any 
     comments and recommendations concerning the report that the 
     Secretary considers appropriate.
       ``(3) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such 
     other reports and recommendations as the Committee considers 
     appropriate.
       ``(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual report 
     submitted to the Congress pursuant to section 529 of this 
     title a summary of all reports and recommendations of the 
     Committee submitted to the Secretary since the previous 
     annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to that 
     section.
       ``(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
     App.) shall apply to the activities of the Committee under 
     this section.
       ``(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the 
     Committee.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of 
     such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
     section 1712B the following:

``1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans.''.

       (b) Original Members.--(1) Notwithstanding subsection 
     (a)(2) of section 1712C of such title (as added by subsection 
     (a)), the members of the Advisory Committee on the 
     Readjustment of Vietnam and Other War Veterans on the date of 
     the enactment of this Act shall be the original members of 
     the advisory committee recognized under such section.
       (2) The original members shall so serve until the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs carries out appointments under such 
     subsection (a)(2). The Secretary shall carry out such 
     appointments as soon after such date as is practicable. The 
     Secretary may make such appointments from among such original 
     members.

     SEC. 6. PLAN FOR EXPANSION OF VIETNAM VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER 
                   PILOT PROGRAM.

       (a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and House of Representatives a plan for the expansion 
     of the Vietnam Veteran Resource Center program established 
     pursuant to the amendment made by section 105 of the 
     Veterans' Administration Health-Care Amendments of 1985 
     (Public Law 99-166; 99 Stat. 944). The plan shall include a 
     schedule for, and an assessment of the cost of, the 
     implementation of the program at or through all Department of 
     Veterans Affairs readjustment counseling centers.
       (2) The Secretary shall submit the plan not later than 4 
     months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Department of 
     Veterans Affairs readjustment counseling centers'' has the 
     same meaning given the term ``center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) 
     of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 7. REPORT ON COLLOCATION OF VET CENTERS AND DEPARTMENT 
                   OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINICS.

       (a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and House of Representatives a report on the 
     feasibility and desirability of the collocation of Vet 
     Centers and outpatient clinics (including rural mobile 
     clinics) of the Department of Veterans Affairs as current 
     leases for such centers and clinics expire.
       (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 6 
     months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Covered Matters.--The report under this section shall 
     include an assessment of the following:
       (1) The results of any collocation of Vet Centers and 
     outpatient clinics carried out by the Secretary before the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, including the effects of 
     such collocation on the quality of care provided at such 
     centers and clinics.
       (2) The effect of such collocation on the capacity of such 
     centers to carry out their primary mission.
       (3) The extent to which such collocation will impair the 
     operational independence or administrative integrity of such 
     centers.
       (4) The feasibility of combining the services provided by 
     such centers and clinics in the course of the collocation of 
     such centers and clinics.
       (5) The advisability of the collocation of centers and 
     clinics of significantly different size.
       (6) The effect of the locations (including urban and rural 
     locations) of the centers and clinics on the feasibility and 
     desirability of such collocation.
       (7) The amount of any costs savings to be achieved by 
     Department as a result of such collocation.
       (8) The desirability of such collocation in light of plans 
     for the provision of health care services by the Department 
     under national health care reform.
       (9) Any other matters that the Secretary determines 
     appropriate.

     SEC. 8. VET CENTER HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     carry out a pilot program for the provision of health-related 
     services to eligible veterans at readjustment counseling 
     centers. The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program in 
     accordance with this section.
       (b) Services.--(1) In carrying out the pilot program, the 
     Secretary shall provide the services referred to in paragraph 
     (2) at not less than 10 readjustment counseling centers in 
     existence on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) The Secretary shall provide basic ambulatory services 
     and health care screening services by such personnel as the 
     Secretary considers appropriate at each readjustment 
     counseling center under the pilot program. The Secretary 
     shall assign not less than one-half of a full-time employee 
     equivalent at each such center in order to provide such 
     services under the pilot program.
       (3) In determining the location of the readjustment 
     counseling centers at which to provide services under the 
     pilot program, the Secretary shall select centers that are 
     located in a variety of geographic areas and that serve 
     veterans of a variety of economic, social, and ethnic 
     backgrounds.
       (c) Period of Operation.--(1) The Secretary shall commence 
     the provision of health-related services at readjustment 
     counseling centers under the pilot program not later than 4 
     months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) The pilot program shall terminate 2 years after the 
     date on which the Secretary commences the provision of 
     services under paragraph (1).
       (d) Report.--(1) The Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the pilot program established under this section. 
     The report shall include the following:
       (A) A description of the program, including information 
     on--
       (i) the number of veterans provided basic ambulatory 
     services and health care screening services under the pilot 
     program;
       (ii) the number of such veterans referred to Department of 
     Veterans Affairs general health-care facilities in order to 
     provide such services to such veterans; and
       (iii) the cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs of the 
     pilot program.
       (B) An analysis of the effectiveness of the services 
     provided to veterans under the pilot program.
       (C) The recommendations of the Secretary for means of 
     improving the pilot program, and an estimate of the cost to 
     the Department of implementing such recommendations.
       (D) An assessment of the desirability of expanding the type 
     or nature of services provided under the pilot program in 
     light of plans for the provision of health care services by 
     the Department under national health care reform.
       (E) An assessment of the extent to which the provision of 
     services under the pilot program impairs the operational or 
     administrative independence of the readjustment counseling 
     centers at which such services are provided.
       (F) An assessment of the effect of the location of the 
     centers on the effectiveness for the Department and for 
     veterans of the services provided under the pilot program.
       (G) Such other information as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 18 
     months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
       (1) The term ``Department of Veterans Affairs general 
     health-care facility'' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 1712A(i)(2) of title 38, United States Code.
       (2) The term ``eligible veteran'' means any veteran 
     eligible for outpatient services under paragraph (1), (2), or 
     (3) of section 1712(a) of such title.
       (3) The term ``readjustment counseling center'' has the 
     same meaning given the term ``center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) 
     of such title.
  (By request of Mr. Conrad, the following statement was ordered to be 
printed in the Record.)
 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, as chairman of the Senate 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I offer my support for S. 1226, the 
proposed Readjustment Counseling Services Amendments of 1994, as 
reported by the committee and as it will be amended with an amendment 
by Senator Leahy.
  This bill, introduced by my good friend and colleague on the 
committee, Senator Danny Akaka, seeks to strengthen and expand the VA 
Vet Center Program. I defer to Senator Akaka to describe the specific 
contents of the bill.
  Mr. President, I do want to note one particular provision in the 
bill. I am delighted that this measure would expand eligibility for vet 
center counseling to veterans from World War II and the Korean war. 
While many of these veterans have long ago readjusted to civilian life, 
vet center counselors--including many in my home State of West 
Virginia--report that a significant number of World War II and Korean 
veterans continue to seek counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder 
and other long-term problems associated with their service. The Senate 
has, on a number of earlier occasions, passed provisions expanding 
eligibility to these wartime veterans. I urge the Senate to pass S. 
1226 and, once again, support the counseling needs of all our wartime 
veterans.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to urge passage of S. 1226, the 
Readjustment Counseling Service Amendments of 1994, as reported 
unanimously by the Veterans' Affairs Committee on November 3, 1993. S. 
1226 as reported is based on original legislation introduced by 
Senators Daschle, Inouye, Wellstone, and myself on July 14, 1993, which 
proposed numerous changes in the organization, policies, and programs 
of the Readjustment Counseling Service [RCS], more popularly known as 
the Vet Center Program.
  As my colleagues know, vet centers are storefront, community-base 
centers operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] that offer 
readjustment counseling services to Vietnam-era veterans and post-
Vietnam combat veterans in an informal, user-friendly environment. 
Since the program was first authorized in 1979, it has grown from 87 
facilities to 201 today, operating in all 50 States. Together, these 
centers have helped more than 1.4 million veterans successfully 
readjust to civilian life. In the process, the Vet Center Program has 
established unmatched leadership in such areas as post-traumatic stress 
disorder, homelessness, disaster assistance, sexual trauma, alcohol and 
substance abuse, suicide prevention, the physically disabled, and 
minority veterans.
  S. 1226 as reported attempts to ensure that the program remains 
viable, relevant, and responsive to the needs of today's veterans. It 
hopes to accomplish these goals by achieving two general aims. On the 
one hand, it preserves what is best in the Vet Center Program by 
codifying and improving its organizational structure and those 
administrative practices which have hitherto made the program uniquely 
effective. On the other, it enhances the ability of vet centers to 
undertake new challenges by expanding eligibility and freeing them to 
explore the vast potential of vet center-based primary health care and 
benefits services.
  Specifically, S. 1226 as reported would: Codify the current 
organizational structure of RCS and require that funding for the 
program be specifically identified in the budget; raise the Director of 
RCS to the Assistant Chief Medical Director level; expand eligibility 
for vet center services to all combat veterans, regardless of period of 
service, and authorize services for all other veterans on a resource-
available basis; authorize bereavement counseling provided through vet 
centers for the families of veterans who died in combat, and authorize 
such counseling to survivors of veterans who died of other service 
related causes on a resource-available basis; establish a statutory 
advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans; require VA to 
develop a plan to assign additional employment, training, and benefit 
counselors at vet centers; require a report on the feasibility and 
desirability of collocating vet centers and VA outpatient clinics; and, 
undertake a pilot program authorizing the provision of limited, primary 
health care services at vet centers.

  I believe that the provisions outlined in S. 1226 as reported must be 
enacted if the Vet Center Program is to remain a vital, progressive 
force in addressing the needs of today's veterans population. This 
measure has the full, bipartisan support of the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee, which held extensive hearings on this bill on August 3, 
1993. The major veterans organizations which testified at the hearing, 
including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, 
The American Legion, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, expressed 
strong support for S. 1226; in addition, AMVETS and the Vietnam 
Veterans of America submitted written testimony supportive of the 
measure. All of the RCS field staff who were invited to comment on the 
bill made positive statements in behalf of the legislation. With 
certain exceptions, the Department commented favorably on many of the 
bill's provisions. After making improvements to the bill suggested by 
the hearing witnesses and members of the committee, the committee 
unanimously voted to report S. 1226 to the Senate floor last November 
3.
  Thank you, Mr. President. I urge my colleagues to support this 
important measure. I wish to thank Senator Rockefeller, the chairman of 
the committee, and Senator Murkowski, the ranking minority member, for 
their help in facilitating consideration of this legislation. Bill Brew 
and Thomas Tighe of the majority staff provided me with exceptional 
insights and suggestions that materially improved the bill; Chris Yoder 
and Bill Tuerk of the minority staff also made significant 
contributions. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not single out for 
special recognition Gerry Kifer, formerly of my staff, without whose 
hard work and dedication this legislation would not have been possible.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
  Mr. DOMENICI. I move to lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

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