[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 23, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H7143-H7147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DISABLED VETERANS SERVICE DOG AND HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2001

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2792) 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, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2792

       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.
Sec. 107. Personal emergency response system for veterans with service-
              connected disabilities.

                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--
       (2) 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--

[[Page H7144]]

       (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
       (A) 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

[[Page H7145]]

       (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''.

     SEC. 107. PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR VETERANS 
                   WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.

       (a) Evaluation and Study.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall carry out an evaluation and study of the 
     feasibility and desirability of providing a personal 
     emergency response system to veterans who have service-
     connected disabilities. The evaluation and study shall be 
     commenced not later than 60 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days 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 evaluation and study under 
     subsection (a). The Secretary shall include in the report the 
     Secretary's findings resulting from the evaluation and study 
     and the Secretary's conclusion as to whether the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs should provide a personal emergency 
     response system to veterans with service-connected 
     disabilities.
       (c) Authority To Provide System.--If the Secretary 
     concludes in the report under subsection (b) that a personal 
     emergency response system should be provided by the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with service-
     connected disabilities--
       (1) the Secretary may provide such a system, without 
     charge, to any veteran with a service-connected disability 
     who is enrolled under section 1705 of title 38, United States 
     Code, and who submits an application for such a system under 
     subsection (d); and
       (2) the Secretary may contract with one or more vendors to 
     furnish such a system.
       (d) Application.--A personal emergency response system may 
     be provided to a veteran under subsection (c)(1) only upon 
     the submission by the veteran of an application for the 
     system. Any such application shall be in such form and manner 
     as the Secretary may require.
       (e) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     ``personal emergency response system'' means a device--
       (1) that can be activated by an individual who is 
     experiencing a medical emergency to notify appropriate 
     emergency medical personnel that the individual is 
     experiencing a medical emergency; and
       (2) that provides the individual's location through a 
     Global Positioning System indicator.

                    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

[[Page H7146]]

     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 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).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Moran) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran).
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on August 2 of this year, I introduced along with the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) the Disabled Veterans Service Dog and Health 
Care Improvement Act of 2001. Numerous provisions in this bill will 
help disabled veterans become more self-sufficient in their daily 
activities and make other numerous improvements to the VA health care 
system.
  Mr. Speaker, in light of today's world events and in light of the 
activities that occurred on September 11, I am reminded of the 
testimony of one of the witnesses before our committee in which she 
quoted the first President of the United States, General George 
Washington:
  ``The willingness of future generations to serve in our military will 
be directly dependent upon how we have treated those who have served it 
in the past.''
  And so today with the world events unfolding and with our service men 
and women facing harm and danger, I rise to support legislation that 
will make improvements on the health care delivery system for those men 
and women of our country who have served our Nation and its military in 
the past.
  I regret that the chairman of our committee, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith), could not be with us this afternoon. He is on his 
way returning from his district. He has been delayed in transit. He 
represents an area of New Jersey that includes Trenton, an area that 
has recently seen postal workers exposed to anthrax and he has been in 
his district this weekend and today trying to ensure that the response 
of the Federal Government is appropriate and coordinated with the State 
and local responses, and so I tip my hat to the gentleman from New 
Jersey and regret his absence but commend him for his diligence in 
taking care of his constituents in these very uncertain times.
  Mr. Speaker, the measure, H.R. 2792, would accomplish the following 
improvements in regard to health care delivery for our Nation's 
veterans. First of all, as the title indicates, it provides service 
dogs to enrolled veterans who need these dogs because of mobility, 
hearing loss or other problems susceptible to improvement with a 
service dog. This bill also strengthens the capacity in that it 
mandates the VA to maintain capacity in specialized medical programs 
for the most seriously disabled veterans in each VA network, and, in 
part because of this provision, has received the strong endorsement of 
the Paralyzed Veterans of America. This capacity issue deals with care 
for serious mental illness, spinal cord injury and dysfunction, blind 
rehabilitation and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries.
  This bill also provides an opportunity to modify the VA's means test, 
the system of determining nonservice connected veterans' ability to pay 
for VA health care services, by producing a fairer means test for 
veterans across the country. This bill requires the Secretary of the 
Department to assess special telephone services made available to 
veterans such as help lines and hotlines and report to Congress. I 
would like to thank my friend and colleague the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Capps) for providing us with the necessary input to 
include this kind of provision. We hope to work with the gentlewoman 
from California throughout the remainder of the year and into the 
future as the results of this study become known.
  This legislation directs implementation, Mr. Speaker, of the 
Chiropractic Service Program that was mandated by this Congress in 1999 
in the Millennium Health Care Act, and provides that the chiropractic 
provisions be implemented nationwide over a 5-year period. Veterans 
would have direct access to chiropractic care. The role of a 
chiropractor in the VA would be as a first entry provider, limited to 
diagnosis and treatment of problems of the lower spine, in consonance 
with State laws governing the practice of chiropractic. Other problems 
of diagnosis and treatment encountered by VA chiropractors would be 
referred to specialists within the VA. I am pleased to be a sponsor of 
this long overdue measure that affords chiropractic care to America's 
veterans.

[[Page H7147]]

                              {time}  1530

  I would like to take this opportunity to commend the full committee 
ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), and the 
ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner), for their legislative efforts in regard to 
this issue.
  This issue is before us after several years of hard work and failure 
of the VA to make any progress following the passage of the Millennium 
Health Care Act of 1999.
  This bill also recognizes the need to sustain a dependable source of 
nursing staff for our VA health care system. It establishes an 
independent National Commission on VA Nursing to report to Congress its 
recommendations to ensure that the veterans health care programs have a 
sufficient supply of professional nurses in the future.
  Finally, the bill requires a study of an emergency response 
communications system for service-disabled veterans. The study is to 
determine the feasibility of providing enrolled, service-connected 
veterans emergency notification capacity that connects them with the 
global positioning system. I look forward to the results of receiving 
this study.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2792, the Disabled Veterans Service Dog and Health 
Care Improvement Act of 2001, makes important improvements in veterans 
health care, and I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
legislation.
  I again thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith); the 
ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans); and the 
ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner), for their work and efforts in making changes 
to this bill and bringing it to this point on the House floor today for 
final passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the chairman of the full committee, 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), and the ranking member and 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Health. They have put together an 
important measure which will help veterans of our country, and is thus 
deserving the support of every Member of this House.
  As reported, H.R. 2797 authorizes the provision of service dogs to 
eligible veterans. Today, service dogs provide invaluable assistance to 
many blind veterans. This measure will authorize similar assistance to 
mobility- and hearing-impaired veterans. These veterans can be well 
served by these highly trained animals.
  As the erosion of programs for disabled veterans occurs, particularly 
the mentally ill, the concerns of Congress have proven prophetic. This 
reporting requirement is an important tool for Congress to assess the 
delivery of care needed by veterans and to hold VA accountable for its 
decisions.
  The measure also authorizes a nursing commission that will review 
current and future challenges to the nursing profession in the VA. I am 
hopeful that this independent body will provide sound advice to the VA 
and to the nursing profession in general and consider appropriate ways 
to encourage members of our nursing profession to seek and maintain 
employment in the VA.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Kansas (Chairman Moran); the ranking 
member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner); and others on the 
subcommittee strongly urge our colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I again thank my colleague from Illinois for his efforts 
today and appreciate his remarks. I remind my colleagues that a week 
ago we were also on this House floor adopting legislation dealing with 
the homeless issue and our veterans. Again the leadership of the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) and the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Evans) brought that bill to the floor. So, for a second 
effort today, we are attempting to make full our commitment to our 
nation's servicemen and women as they have retired and become veterans.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2792, 
the Disabled Veterans Service Dog and Health Care Improvement Act of 
2001. I urge my colleagues to lend their support to this important 
measure.
  H.R. 2792 authorizes the provision of service dogs to any veteran 
with an ailment where improvement in overall condition or enhancement 
in daily activity can be reached through the use of such an animal. 
These impairments include, but are not limited to, spinal cord 
injuries, other injuries that cause physical immobility and hearing 
loss. Veterans must be enrolled in VA Care in order to receive a dog, 
and all dogs will be provided in line with existing enrollment 
priorities for each VISN.
  The legislation also strengthens the mandate for VA to maintain its 
capacity for specialized medical care by requiring that each VISN 
operate a proportional share of the national capacity for specialized 
care, including mental health, substance abuse, spinal cord and brain 
injury, and prosthetic care.
  H.R. 2792 further directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to review 
the existing phone system for veterans, including all existing hot 
lines and help lines to ensure that VA resources in this area are being 
utilized effectively and efficiently.
  The bill also creates a new chiropractic services program within the 
VA, at thirty separate medical centers. The plan is to have this new 
program operating nationwide within five years.
  Finally, this bill establishes a national commission on VA nursing 
for the purpose of improving recruitment and retention of nurses within 
the VA Health Care System.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation provides several much needed 
improvements to the system that delivers medical care to the veterans 
of our Armed Forces. The VA health care system offers some of the 
finest specialist care in the world, particularly for those veterans 
with spinal cord injuries and those requiring prosthetic devices. VA 
research in these fields is a cutting edge and second to none. I am 
pleased that this legislation offers additional options to these 
specialty care veterans to facilitate their day-to-day living.
  Moreover, the VA nursing staffing issue has reached acute 
proportions. This bill seeks to create an institutional response to 
this staffing shortage which attempts to offer a long-term solution to 
this critical problem.
  For these reasons Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to lend their 
wholehearted support to this important legislation.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2792, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hansen). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Kansas?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 2792, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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