[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]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      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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