[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 185 (Monday, November 13, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S7178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Markey, Mr. Reed,
Mr. Brown, Mr. Wyden, and Mrs. Murray):
S. 2119. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit
smoking in any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for
other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 2119
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON SMOKING IN FACILITIES OF THE
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Prohibition.--Section 1715 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 1715. Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the
Veterans Health Administration
``(a) Prohibition.--(1)(A) Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), no person may smoke indoors in any facility
of the Veterans Health Administration.
``(B) In the case of a facility of the Veterans Health
Administration that is a community living center, no person
may smoke indoors in such facility on or after December 31,
2018.
``(2) No person may smoke outdoors in any facility of the
Veterans Health Administration on or after October 1, 2021.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `community living center' means a facility
of the Department that provides nursing home care.
``(2) The term `facility of the Veterans Health
Administration' means any land or building (including any
medical center, nursing home, domiciliary facility,
outpatient clinic, or center that provides readjustment
counseling) that is--
``(A) under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans
Affairs;
``(B) under the control of the Veterans Health
Administration; and
``(C) not under the control of the General Services
Administration.
``(3) The term `smoke' includes the smoking of cigarettes
(including e-cigarettes or electronic cigarettes), cigars,
pipes, and any other combustion of tobacco.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by striking
the item relating to section 1715 and inserting the following
new item:
``1715. Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health
Administration.''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 526 of the Veterans
Health Care Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-585; 38 U.S.C. 1715
note) is hereby repealed.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
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