[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 135 (Thursday, July 30, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4647-S4648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HIGHLY RURAL VETERAN TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM EXTENSION ACT

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 413, S. 850.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 850) to extend the authorization of 
     appropriations to the Department of Veterans Affairs for 
     purposes of awarding grants to veterans service organizations 
     for the transportation of highly rural veterans.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, with 
an amendment as follows:

                                 S. 850

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Highly Rural Veteran 
     Transportation Program Extension Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO VETERANS 
                   SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF 
                   HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS.

       Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 
     Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 38 U.S.C. 
     1710 note) is amended by striking ``2020'' and inserting 
     ``2021''.

     SEC. 3. MAKING PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS TO TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM 
                   FACILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       Section 111A(a) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
       (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1)''.

     SEC. 4. MEDICAL EXAMINATION PROTOCOL FOR VOLUNTEER DRIVERS 
                   PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAM OF TRANSPORTATION 
                   SERVICES FOR VETERANS.

       Section 111A(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2)(A) Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of the Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Program 
     Extension Act, the Secretary shall develop and establish a 
     national protocol for the administration of medical 
     examinations for volunteer drivers to participate in the 
     program described in paragraph (1).
       ``(B) In developing the protocol required by subparagraph 
     (A), the Secretary shall consult with such persons as the 
     Secretary determines have an interest in the program 
     described in paragraph (1).
       ``(C)(i) The Secretary shall implement the protocol by 
     first conducting a one-year pilot program using the protocol.
       ``(ii) After conducting the pilot program required by 
     clause (i), the Secretary shall assess the pilot program and 
     make such changes to the protocol as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       ``(iii) After making changes to the protocol under clause 
     (ii), the Secretary shall implement the protocol in phases 
     during the course of one year.''.

     SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES REPORT ON 
                   TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR VETERANS.

       (a) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
     the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives a report on the program the 
     establishment of which was facilitated under section 111A(b) 
     of title 38, United States Code.
       (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       (1) A description of the program described in subsection 
     (a), including descriptions of the following:
       (A) The purpose of the program.
       (B) The activities carried out under the program.
       (2) An assessment of the sufficiency of the program with 
     respect to the purpose of the program.
       (3) An assessment of the cost effectiveness of the program 
     in relation to alternatives.
       (4) An assessment of the health benefits for veterans who 
     have participated in the program.
       (5) An assessment of the sufficiency of staffing of 
     employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are 
     responsible for facilitating the maintenance of the program.
       (6) An assessment, with respect to the purpose of the 
     program, of the number of vehicles owned by and operating in 
     conjunction with the program.
       (7) An assessment of the awareness and usage of the program 
     by veterans and their families.
       (8) An assessment of other options for transportation under 
     the program, such as local taxi companies and ridesharing 
     programs such as Uber and Lyft.
  Mr. SULLIVAN. I ask unanimous consent that the Sullivan amendment at 
the desk be considered and agreed to; the committee-reported amendment, 
as amended, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be considered read a 
third time and passed; and that motion to reconsider be considered made 
and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2502) was agreed to as follows

 (Purpose: To require a report by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on 
    the transportation of individuals to and from facilities of the 
                    Department of Veterans Affairs)

       Strike section 3 and insert the following:

     SEC. 3. MAKING PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS TO TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM 
                   FACILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Section 111A(a) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--

[[Page S4648]]

       (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
       (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1)''.
       (b) Report Required.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than five years after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on cost savings, 
     performance, and satisfaction of individuals, with respect 
     to--
       (A) the transport by the Secretary of individuals under 
     subsection (a) of section 111A of title 38, United States 
     Code; and
       (B) the program the establishment of which was facilitated 
     under subsection (b) of such section.
       (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include an assessment of the effect of emerging health care 
     modalities, including telehealth and VA Video Connect, on--
       (A) the transport of individuals described in paragraph 
     (1)(A);
       (B) the satisfaction of such individuals with services 
     described in section 111A(a) of title 38, United States Code; 
     and
       (C) the program described in paragraph (1)(B).
       (3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       (A) Telehealth.--
       (i) In general.--The term ``telehealth'' means the use of 
     electronic information and telecommunications technologies to 
     support and promote long-distance clinical health care, 
     patient and professional health-related education, public 
     health, and health administration.
       (ii) Technologies.--For purposes of clause (i), 
     telecommunications technologies include videoconferencing, 
     the internet, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless 
     communications.
       (B) VA video connect.--The term ``VA Video Connect'' means 
     the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to connect 
     veterans with their health care team from anywhere, using 
     encryption to ensure a secure and private session.
       (c) Technical Correction.--Section 111A(b) of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``veterans' 
     service organizations'' and inserting ``veterans service 
     organizations''.

  The committee-reported amendment, as amended, was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 850), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows

                                 S. 850

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Highly Rural Veteran 
     Transportation Program Extension Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO VETERANS 
                   SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF 
                   HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS.

       Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 
     Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 38 U.S.C. 
     1710 note) is amended by striking ``2020'' and inserting 
     ``2021''.

     SEC. 3. MAKING PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS TO TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM 
                   FACILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Section 111A(a) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
       (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1)''.
       (b) Report Required.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than five years after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on cost savings, 
     performance, and satisfaction of individuals, with respect 
     to--
       (A) the transport by the Secretary of individuals under 
     subsection (a) of section 111A of title 38, United States 
     Code; and
       (B) the program the establishment of which was facilitated 
     under subsection (b) of such section.
       (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include an assessment of the effect of emerging health care 
     modalities, including telehealth and VA Video Connect, on--
       (A) the transport of individuals described in paragraph 
     (1)(A);
       (B) the satisfaction of such individuals with services 
     described in section 111A(a) of title 38, United States Code; 
     and
       (C) the program described in paragraph (1)(B).
       (3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       (A) Telehealth.--
       (i) In general.--The term ``telehealth'' means the use of 
     electronic information and telecommunications technologies to 
     support and promote long-distance clinical health care, 
     patient and professional health-related education, public 
     health, and health administration.
       (ii) Technologies.--For purposes of clause (i), 
     telecommunications technologies include videoconferencing, 
     the internet, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless 
     communications.
       (B) VA video connect.--The term ``VA Video Connect'' means 
     the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to connect 
     veterans with their health care team from anywhere, using 
     encryption to ensure a secure and private session.
       (c) Technical Correction.--Section 111A(b) of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``veterans' 
     service organizations'' and inserting ``veterans service 
     organizations''.

     SEC. 4. MEDICAL EXAMINATION PROTOCOL FOR VOLUNTEER DRIVERS 
                   PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAM OF TRANSPORTATION 
                   SERVICES FOR VETERANS.

       Section 111A(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2)(A) Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of the Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Program 
     Extension Act, the Secretary shall develop and establish a 
     national protocol for the administration of medical 
     examinations for volunteer drivers to participate in the 
     program described in paragraph (1).
       ``(B) In developing the protocol required by subparagraph 
     (A), the Secretary shall consult with such persons as the 
     Secretary determines have an interest in the program 
     described in paragraph (1).
       ``(C)(i) The Secretary shall implement the protocol by 
     first conducting a one-year pilot program using the protocol.
       ``(ii) After conducting the pilot program required by 
     clause (i), the Secretary shall assess the pilot program and 
     make such changes to the protocol as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       ``(iii) After making changes to the protocol under clause 
     (ii), the Secretary shall implement the protocol in phases 
     during the course of one year.''.

     SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES REPORT ON 
                   TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR VETERANS.

       (a) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
     the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives a report on the program the 
     establishment of which was facilitated under section 111A(b) 
     of title 38, United States Code.
       (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       (1) A description of the program described in subsection 
     (a), including descriptions of the following:
       (A) The purpose of the program.
       (B) The activities carried out under the program.
       (2) An assessment of the sufficiency of the program with 
     respect to the purpose of the program.
       (3) An assessment of the cost effectiveness of the program 
     in relation to alternatives.
       (4) An assessment of the health benefits for veterans who 
     have participated in the program.
       (5) An assessment of the sufficiency of staffing of 
     employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are 
     responsible for facilitating the maintenance of the program.
       (6) An assessment, with respect to the purpose of the 
     program, of the number of vehicles owned by and operating in 
     conjunction with the program.
       (7) An assessment of the awareness and usage of the program 
     by veterans and their families.
       (8) An assessment of other options for transportation under 
     the program, such as local taxi companies and ridesharing 
     programs such as Uber and Lyft.

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