[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 127 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S4441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 398. Mr. SCHATZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1049. ACCESS OF VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO 
                   MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR 
                   SUPPORT OF PROVISION OF PRESEPARATION 
                   COUNSELING AND RELATED BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF 
                   THE ARMED FORCES.

       (a) Access To Be Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--Under regulations prescribed by the 
     Secretary of Defense for purposes of this section, commanders 
     of military installations in the United States shall permit 
     representatives of veterans service organization reasonable 
     and regular access to such military installations in order to 
     permit such representatives to support and facilitate efforts 
     of the Department of Defense to provide preseparation 
     counseling and related benefits under chapter 58 of title 10, 
     United States Code, to members of the Armed Forces stationed 
     at such installations.
       (2) Scope of access.--Any access to an installation under 
     this subsection shall occur only in a manner fully consistent 
     with the maintenance of security and safety at such 
     installation.
       (b) Veterans Service Organizations.--For purposes of this 
     section, veterans service organizations are organizations 
     recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant to 
     section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
       (c) Regulations.--In prescribing regulations for purposes 
     of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall avoid the 
     following:
       (1) The recommendation or endorsement of a particular 
     veterans service organization over another veterans service 
     organization in the support or facilitation of efforts 
     described in subsection (a).
       (2) The encouragement, support, or other suggestion that a 
     member of the Armed Forces seek membership in a veterans 
     service organization.
       (d) Commencement of Access.--Access to installations under 
     this section shall commence upon the date specified by the 
     Secretary of Defense in the regulations prescribed for 
     purposes of this section, which date shall be not later than 
     one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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