[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 35 (Thursday, March 3, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S1285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3417. Mr. FLAKE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 524, to authorize the Attorney General to award 
grants to address the national epidemics of prescription opioid abuse 
and heroin use; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title VII, add the following:

     SEC. 705. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES STUDY ON 
                   VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS AND VETERANS JUSTICE 
                   OUTREACH PROGRAM.

       (a) Study and Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall--
       (1) complete a study on the effectiveness of Veterans 
     Treatment Courts and the Veterans Justice Outreach Program of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
       (2) submit to Congress a report on the findings of the 
     Comptroller General with respect to the study completed under 
     paragraph (1).
       (b) Elements.--As part of the study required by subsection 
     (a), the Comptroller General shall assess the following:
       (1) The extent to which Veterans Treatment Courts--
       (A) provide a benefit to veterans with a mental illness or 
     substance abuse problem; and
       (B) provide timely access to services furnished by the 
     Veterans Health Administration.
       (2) The number of Veterans Treatment Courts in operation.
       (3) The number of Veterans Treatment Courts in the process 
     of being established.
       (4) What is known about the effectiveness of Veterans 
     Treatment Courts and what data are reported to the Federal 
     Government about the use and performance of such courts.
       (5) The number of veterans assigned to each Veterans 
     Justice Outreach Specialist that is assigned to a Veterans 
     Treatment Court.
       (6) The method by which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     allocates the number and location of Veterans Justice 
     Outreach Specialists and whether such method adequately 
     ensures appropriate representation in Veterans Treatment 
     Courts.
       (7) To what extent would having additional Veterans Justice 
     Outreach Specialists--
       (A) provide veterans with better access to services 
     furnished by the Veterans Health Administration; and
       (B) allow for the establishment of additional Veterans 
     Treatment Courts.
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