[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 79 (Monday, May 24, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3718-H3719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1500
CHIROPRACTIC CARE AVAILABLE TO ALL VETERANS ACT
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1017) to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health
Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 and title 38, United States Code,
to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans
at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to expand
access to such care and services, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1017
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 ``Chiropractic Care Available
to All Veterans Act''.
SEC. 2. PROGRAM FOR PROVISION OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE AND
SERVICES TO VETERANS.
Section 204(c) of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health
Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 (38 U.S.C. 1710 note)
is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The program''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) The program shall be carried out at not fewer than 75
medical centers by not later than December 31, 2011, and at
all medical centers by not later than December 31, 2013.''.
SEC. 3. EXPANDED CHIROPRACTOR SERVICES AVAILABLE TO VETERANS.
(a) Medical Services.--Paragraph (6) of section 1701 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following new subparagraph:
``(H) Chiropractic services.''.
(b) Rehabilitative Services.--Paragraph (8) of such section
is amended by inserting ``chiropractic,'' after
``counseling,''.
(c) Preventive Health Services.--Paragraph (9) of such
section is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (K) as
subparagraphs (G) through (L), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new
subparagraph (F):
``(F) periodic and preventative chiropractic examinations
and services;''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Chiropractic
Care Available to All Veterans Act, H.R. 1017, as amended, which
emphasizes the critical need for robust chiropractic services within
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In the theater today, Madam Speaker, servicemembers may carry up to
55 pounds of combat equipment and armor. Consistently supporting such a
heavy load places a serious strain on the backs and joints of our
servicemembers, thereby causing musculoskeletal injuries. In fact, the
VA reports that musculoskeletal disorders are the single most common
ailment facing returning veterans. Among veterans of Operation Enduring
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom who have received treatment from
the VA, over 52 percent have been diagnosed with such a disorder;
however, the VA is not presently equipped to serve this clear need.
Current law specifies that the VA must have at least one chiropractic
care program in each of the 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks, or
VISNs. Today, in-house chiropractic care is available at just 32 major
VA facilities. This leaves veterans living near the remaining 121
centers without access to chiropractic care at a VA facility.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 1017 would make chiropractic care available to
all veterans at all VA medical centers by phasing in the establishment
of such chiropractic care programs. The VA would be required to offer
chiropractic care at 75 medical centers by the end of 2011 and at all
VA medical centers by the end of 2013. This bill provides an
opportunity to significantly expand access to chiropractic care for one
of the most prevalent disorders facing veterans returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan.
I urge the support of my colleagues and reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 1017, as amended, the Chiropractic Care
Available to All Veterans Act, to amend the Department of Veterans
Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 and title 38
United States Code to require the provision of chiropractic care and
services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical
centers and to expand such care and services.
Musculoskeletal injuries cause problems not only for veterans of past
conflicts, but are also one of the leading health concerns for veterans
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. This committee has a long history
of taking action to ensure that the VA provides quality and accessible
chiropractic care, and I would like to thank the chairman for
introducing legislation once again.
I also want to thank my good friend and colleague from Kansas, Jerry
Moran, for his strong advocacy of the need to provide quality
chiropractic care within the VA. It was legislation that Jerry Moran
introduced in the 108th Congress that initially provided the VA with
the authority to hire and employ chiropractors.
The VA provides chiropractic care at 32 VA medical centers using
hired or contracted staff. Chiropractic services are also available to
veterans who live in areas distant from facilities through its fee
basis program, which uses local non-VA providers.
Given the prevalence of back, neck, and joint pain in the veteran
population, there is a need to expand access to chiropractic care
within the VA medical facilities. This bill would do that by mandating
such care at 75 VA medical centers by the end of next year and at each
VA medical center by the end of 2013. However, I want to point out that
it is also important that the VA continues to ensure chiropractic care
remains available as an option through the VA's fee basis program.
Oftentimes, the fee basis program is needed or would benefit the
health status of an eligible veteran. For instance, multiple treatments
with some frequency may be required to receive the full benefits of
chiropractic care. If a veteran lives some distance from a VA medical
center requiring that veteran to make multiple trips, it creates an
undue travel burden. In such cases, the use of the VA's fee basis
program is in the best interest of the veteran. Therefore, it must
always remain a mechanism for accessing care to ensure system-wide
availability regardless of whether a VA medical center has a
chiropractor on staff.
As always, I believe it is our duty to do all we can to help our
veteran warriors heal from the injuries incurred through service to our
Nation. Providing them with readily-accessible, widely-available, and
highly skilled chiropractic care I believe will go a long way towards
increasing the health and well-being of our veteran population. As
such, I encourage all my colleagues to join with me in supporting H.R.
1017, as amended.
I would also like to extend special recognition to Chairman Michaud
and Ranking Member Brown of the Health Subcommittee for their work on
this bill and that of the staff.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
May 24, 2010 on H3718 the following appeared: Ranking Member
Broun of the Health
The online version should be corrected to read: Ranking Member
Brown of the Health
========================= END NOTE =========================
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I just want to point out that we are
approaching the Memorial Day recess. Probably all of us will be at
veterans memorials and parades, saluting them on Memorial Day, and we
will all say, of course, that we support our veterans.
What we are doing today, as we have done throughout the year, is to
say we have a series of bills that will in fact add to the benefits and
the well-being of our veterans, and that is the best way to celebrate
Memorial Day.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1017, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
[[Page H3719]]
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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