[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 49 (Friday, March 26, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CLARIFYING MINIMUM ESSENTIAL COVERAGE

  Mr. KAUFMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Veterans 
Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 3162 
and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3162) to clarify the health care provided by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum 
     essential coverage.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. KAUFMAN. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third 
time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with 
no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to the bill 
be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 3162) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 3162

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

     SECTION 1. CLARIFICATION OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDED BY THE 
                   SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS THAT CONSTITUTES 
                   MINIMUM ESSENTIAL COVERAGE.

       (a) In General.--Clause (v) of section 5000A(f)(1)(A) of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by section 
     1501(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(v) chapter 17 or 18 of title 38, United States Code, or 
     otherwise under the laws administered by the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, of an individual entitled to coverage under 
     such chapter or laws for essential health benefits (as 
     defined by the Secretary for purposes of section 1302(b) of 
     the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) insofar as 
     such benefits are available under such chapter or laws; or''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect as if included in section 1501(b) of the 
     Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and shall be 
     executed immediately after the amendments made by such 
     section 1501(b).

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