[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 167 (Tuesday, November 10, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S7938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2806. Ms. MURKOWSKI (for Mr. Isakson) proposed an amendment to the 
bill S. 1203, to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the 
processing by the Department of Veterans Affairs of claims for benefits 
under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for 
other purposes; as follows:

       Beginning on page 29, strike line 1 and all that follows 
     through page 32, line 20, and insert the following:

     SEC. 112. REPORTS ON PUBLIC ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS RESEARCH.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act and not later than one year after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives a report on increasing public 
     access to scientific publications and digital data from 
     research funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       (1) Identification of where on the Internet website of the 
     Department the public will be able to access results of 
     research funded by the Department or be referred to other 
     sources to access the results of research funded by the 
     Department.
       (2) A description of the progress made by the Department in 
     meeting public access requirements set forth in the Federal 
     Register notice entitled ``Policy and Implementation Plan for 
     Public Access to Scientific Publications and Digital Data 
     from Research Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs'' 
     (80 Fed. Reg. 60751), including the following:
       (A) Compliance of Department investigators with 
     requirements relating to ensuring that research funded by the 
     Department is accessible by the public.
       (B) Ensuring data management plans of the Department 
     include provisions for long-term preservation of the 
     scientific data resulting from research funded by the 
     Department.
       (3) An explanation of the factors used to evaluate the 
     merit of data management plans of research funded by the 
     Veterans Health Administration.
       (4) An explanation of the process of the Department in 
     effect that enables stakeholders to petition a change to the 
     embargo period for a specific field and the factors 
     considered during such process.
       On page 33, line 6, strike ``45'' and insert ``72''.
       On page 43, strike lines 7 through 11 and insert the 
     following:
       (a) In General.--In carrying out the education and training 
     program required under section 7302(a)(1) of title 38, United 
     States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include 
     education and training of marriage and family therapists and 
     licensed professional mental health counselors.
       (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect on 
     the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       Beginning on page 43, strike line 19 and all that follows 
     through page 44, line 9.
       Beginning on page 65, strike line 3 and all that follows 
     through page 70, line 8.
       Beginning on page 91, strike line 22 and all that follows 
     through page 92, line 1, and insert the following:
       (a) In General.--During the 10-year period beginning on 
     September 26, 2015, the second sentence of subsection (c) of 
     section 3684 of title 38, United States Code, shall be 
     applied--
       (1) by substituting ``$8'' for ``$12''; and
       (2) by substituting ``$12'' for ``$15''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 406 of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (Public Law 
     113-175; 38 U.S.C. 3684 note), as amended by section 410 of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act 
     of 2015 (Public Law 114-58), is hereby repealed.
                                 ______