[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 83 (Monday, May 21, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2797-S2799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 2253. Mr. ROUNDS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2372, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide outer burial receptacles for remains buried in National Parks, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 8, line 4, insert ``and'' after the semicolon.
       On page 8, strike line 7 through line 20.
       Beginning on page 127, strike line 3 and all that follows 
     through page 174, line 16.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2254. Mr. GARDNER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 2372, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide outer burial receptacles for remains buried in National Parks, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of title V, add the following:

     SEC. 513. IMPROVING ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN VETERANS HEALTH 
                   ADMINISTRATION BY REQUIRING REPORTING OF MAJOR 
                   ADVERSE ACTIONS TAKEN TO NATIONAL PRACTITIONER 
                   DATA BANK AND STATE LICENSING BOARDS.

       Section 7461 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:

[[Page S2798]]

       ``(f) Whenever the Under Secretary for Health (or an 
     official designated by the Under Secretary) brings charges 
     based on conduct or performance against a section 7401(1) 
     employee and as a result of those charges a major adverse 
     action is taken against the employee, the Under Secretary 
     shall, not later than 30 days after the date on which such 
     major adverse action is carried out, transmit to the National 
     Practitioner Data Bank and the applicable State licensing 
     board the name of the employee, a description of the major 
     adverse action, and a description of the reason for the major 
     adverse action.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2255. Mr. GARDNER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 2372, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide outer burial receptacles for remains buried in National Parks, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of title III, add the following:

     SEC. 307. PILOT PROGRAM ON EXPEDITING THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS PROCESS FOR ONBOARDING NEW 
                   MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and 
     advisability of expediting the onboarding process for new 
     medical providers of the Veterans Health Administration. 
     Under the pilot program, the Secretary shall seek to reduce 
     the length of time of such onboarding process to not more 
     than 60 days.
       (b) Locations.--The Secretary shall select medical 
     facilities at which to carry out the pilot program. In 
     selecting such facilities, the Secretary shall give priority 
     to medical facilities facing hiring shortages of licensed 
     independent medical providers.
       (c) Onboarding Process Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``onboarding process'' means the process of bringing on a 
     medical provider applicant after the medical provider is 
     offered a tentative position, including certification of 
     credentialing, background investigation, assessment of health 
     status, and such other actions are necessary for starting 
     employment.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2256. Mr. GARDNER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 2372, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide outer burial receptacles for remains buried in National Parks, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of title III, add the following:

     SEC. 307. STRATEGY TO REDUCE DURATION OF HIRING PROCESS OF 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR LICENSED 
                   PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to Congress a strategy to reduce the duration of 
     the hiring process of the Department of Veterans Affairs for 
     licensed professional medical providers by half.
       (b) Expedited Certification of Credentials.--The strategy 
     required by subsection (a) shall include a description of how 
     the overall certification of credentials process for licensed 
     professional medical providers can be expedited.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2257. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 2372, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide outer burial receptacles for remains buried in National Parks, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 127, line 5, strike ``201'' and insert ``200''.
       On page 127, between lines 7 an 8, insert the following:

     SEC. 201. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

       It is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) a strong and fully resourced Veterans Health 
     Administration (referred to in this section as the ``VA'') is 
     necessary to effectively serve our veterans community;
       (2) veterans overwhelmingly report that they are satisfied 
     with the care they receive at facilities operated by the VA;
       (3) research has shown that the VA produces as good or 
     better outcomes for its patients than private health care 
     systems; and
       (4) the Senate opposes any effort that would weaken the VA 
     or put the VA on a path toward privatization.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2258. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 2372, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide outer burial receptacles for remains buried in National Parks, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of title V, add the following:

     SEC. 513. APPROPRIATION OF AMOUNTS FOR HEALTH CARE FROM 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 
     2014 (Public Law 113-146) established the Veterans Choice 
     Program under section 101 of such Act (Public Law 113-146; 38 
     U.S.C. 1701 note) as a temporary program to address a wait 
     time backlog for the receipt of health care from the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs and a shortage of health care 
     professionals at medical facilities of the Department;
       (2) as of the date of the enactment of this Act, there are 
     approximately 45,000 vacancies at the Veterans Health 
     Administration; and
       (3) of those vacancies, approximately 36,000 are vacancies 
     for positions relating to front line care for veterans.
       (b) Appropriation of Amounts.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated, and is appropriated, to the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, out of any funds in the Treasury not 
     otherwise appropriated, $5,200,000,000 to carry out 
     subsection (d).
       (c) Availability of Amounts.--The amount appropriated under 
     subsection (b) shall be available for obligation or 
     expenditure without fiscal year limitation.
       (d) Use of Amounts.--The amount appropriated under 
     subsection (b) shall be used by the Secretary as follows:
       (1) To increase the access of veterans to care as follows:
       (A) To hire primary care and specialty care physicians for 
     employment in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (B) To hire other medical staff, including the following:
       (i) Physicians.
       (ii) Nurses.
       (iii) Social workers.
       (iv) Mental health professionals.
       (v) Dental professionals.
       (vi) Other health care professionals as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate.
       (C) To carry out the following:
       (i) Section 7412 of title 38, United States Code.
       (ii) Section 7302(e) of such title.
       (iii) Section 301(b)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and 
     Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 
     7302 note).
       (D) To pay for expenses, equipment, and other costs 
     associated with the hiring of primary care physicians, 
     specialty care physicians, and other medical staff under 
     subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).
       (2) To improve the physical infrastructure of the 
     Department as follows:
       (A) To maintain and operate hospitals, nursing homes, 
     domiciliary facilities, and other facilities of the Veterans 
     Health Administration.
       (B) To enter into contracts or hire temporary employees to 
     repair, alter, or improve facilities under the jurisdiction 
     of the Department that are not otherwise provided for under 
     this paragraph.
       (C) To carry out leases for facilities of the Department.
       (D) To carry out minor construction projects of the 
     Department.
       (e) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
     report on how the Secretary has obligated the amount 
     appropriated under subsection (b) as of the date of the 
     submittal of the report.
       (2) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term `` appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
       (f) Funding Plan.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
     funding plan describing how the Secretary intends to use the 
     amount appropriated under subsection (b).
       (g) Emergency Designation.--
       (1) Statutory paygo.--This section is designated as an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the 
     Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
       (2) Senate designation.--In the Senate, this section is 
     designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent 
     resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2259. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 2372, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide outer burial receptacles for remains buried in National Parks, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 115, line 12, insert ``or illness'' after ``serious 
     injury''.
       On page 115, line 20, insert ``or illness'' after ``serious 
     injury''.
       On page 116, line 6, insert ``or illness'' after ``serious 
     injury''.
       On page 120, after line 21, insert the following:
       (c) Appropriation of Amounts.--
       (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated, 
     and is appropriated, to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
     out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
     $9,500,000,000 to carry out the program of comprehensive 
     assistance for family caregivers under section 1720G(a) of 
     title 38, United States Code, as amended by this section.
       (2) Emergency designation.--
       (A) Statutory paygo.--This subsection is designated as an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the 
     Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).

[[Page S2799]]

       (B) Senate designation.--In the Senate, this subsection is 
     designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent 
     resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.
       On page 124, line 3, insert ``or illness'' after ``serious 
     injury''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2260. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 2372, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide outer burial receptacles for remains buried in National Parks, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of title V, add the following:

     SEC. 513. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OF 
                   ALTERNATIVE DENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR 
                   DENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR VETERANS IN 
                   RURAL AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

       (a) Demonstration Program Authorized.--The Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs may carry out a demonstration program to 
     establish programs to train and employ alternative dental 
     health care providers in order to increase access to dental 
     health care services for veterans who are entitled to such 
     services from the Department of Veterans Affairs and reside 
     in rural and other underserved communities.
       (b) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize the 
     establishment of programs under the demonstration program 
     under this section in States that do not have a facility of 
     the Department that offers on-site dental services.
       (c) Telehealth.--For purposes of alternative dental health 
     care providers and other dental care providers who are 
     licensed to provide clinical care, dental services provided 
     under the demonstration program under this section may be 
     administered by such providers through telehealth-enabled 
     collaboration and supervision when appropriate and feasible.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out the demonstration program under this 
     section.
       (e) Alternative Dental Health Care Providers Defined.--In 
     this section, the term ``alternative dental health care 
     providers'' has the meaning given that term in section 340G-
     1(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256g-
     1(a)(2)).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2261. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 2372, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide outer burial receptacles for remains buried in National Parks, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       Strike title II.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2262. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 2372, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide outer burial receptacles for remains buried in National Parks, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of title I, add the following:

     SEC. 164. CLARIFICATION THAT VETERANS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR 
                   AMOUNTS IMPROPERLY PAID TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS 
                   DUE TO AN ERROR MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       Section 1720G(a), as amended by section 161 of this Act, is 
     further amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(12) If a family caregiver of an eligible veteran is 
     found to be ineligible for the program required by paragraph 
     (1) due to an error made by the Department, the eligible 
     veteran shall not be liable for any payments made by the 
     Department to the family caregiver.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2263. Mrs. ERNST (for herself and Mr. Grassley) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2372, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to provide outer burial receptacles for 
remains buried in National Parks, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title V, add the following:

     SEC. 513. THIRD PARTY REVIEW OF APPOINTEES IN VETERANS HEALTH 
                   ADMINISTRATION WHO HAD A LICENSE, REGISTRATION, 
                   OR CERTIFICATION FOR THE PROVISION OF HOSPITAL 
                   CARE OR A MEDICAL SERVICE REVOKED.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     enter into a contract or other agreement with an organization 
     that is not part of the Federal Government to conduct a 
     clinical review of a representative sample of the care 
     provided by covered individuals.
       (b) Covered Individual.--For purposes of this section, a 
     covered individual is an individual who was appointed to a 
     position in the Veterans Health Administration covered by 
     subsection (b) of section 7402 of title 38, United States 
     Code, in violation of subsection (f) of such section because 
     the individual had a license, registration, or certification 
     applicable to the provision of hospital care or a medical 
     service terminated for cause.
       (c) Representative Sample Defined.--In this section, the 
     term ``representative sample'' means, with respect to a 
     covered individual, a collection of cases that is generated 
     through the use of sampling methods commonly used in clinical 
     research that would be representative of the care provided to 
     all of the individuals cared for by the covered individual.

                          ____________________