[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 Broun of the Health Subcommittee for their work on 
this bill and that of the staff.
  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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