[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 139 (Wednesday, August 5, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4946-S4976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 2568. Ms. McSALLY (for herself, Mr. Rounds, Mrs. Capito, Mr. 
Hawley, Mr. Cotton, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mr. Tillis) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. 
McConnell to the bill S. 178, to condemn gross human rights violations 
of ethnic Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to 
arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment of these communities 
inside and outside China; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. _____. RESPONSIBILITY OF FOREIGN STATES FOR RECKLESS 
                   ACTIONS OR OMISSIONS CAUSING THE COVID-19 
                   GLOBAL PANDEMIC IN THE UNITED STATES.

       (a) Responsibility.--Chapter 97 of title 28, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 1605B the 
     following:

     ``Sec. 1605C. Responsibility of foreign states for reckless 
       actions or omissions causing the COVID-19 global pandemic 
       in the United States

       ``(a) Responsibility of Foreign States.--A foreign state 
     shall not be immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of 
     the United States in any case in which money damages are 
     sought against a foreign state for death or physical or 
     economic injury to person, property, or business occurring in 
     the United States following any reckless action or omission 
     (including a conscious disregard of the need to report 
     information promptly or deliberately hiding relevant 
     information) of a foreign state, or of any official, 
     employee, or agent of that foreign state while acting within 
     the scope of his or her office, employment, or agency, that 
     caused or substantially contributed to the COVID-19 global 
     pandemic in the United States, regardless of where the action 
     or omission occurred.
       ``(b) Rule of Construction.--A foreign state shall not be 
     subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United 
     States under subsection (a) on the basis of an omission or 
     act that constitutes mere negligence.
       ``(c) Jurisdiction.--
       ``(1) Exclusive jurisdiction.--The courts of the United 
     States shall have exclusive jurisdiction in any action in 
     which a foreign state is subject to the jurisdiction of a 
     court of the United States under subsection (a).
       ``(2) Additional authority to issue orders.--In addition to 
     authority already granted by other laws, the courts of the 
     United States shall have jurisdiction to make and issue any 
     writ or order of injunction necessary or appropriate for the 
     enforcement of this section, including pre-judgment 
     injunctions related to transfer or disposal of assets.
       ``(d) Intervention.--The Attorney General may intervene in 
     any action in which a foreign state is subject to the 
     jurisdiction of a court of the United States under subsection 
     (a) for the purpose of seeking a stay of the civil action, in 
     whole or in part.
       ``(e) Stay.--
       ``(1) In general.--A court of the United States may stay a 
     proceeding against a foreign state if the Secretary of State 
     certifies that the United States is engaged in good faith 
     discussions with the foreign state defendant concerning the 
     resolution of the claims against the foreign state, or any 
     other parties as to whom a stay of claims is sought. In 
     exercising its discretion under this subsection, the court 
     shall balance the interests of the United States with the 
     interests of the plaintiffs in a timely review of their 
     claims.
       ``(2) Duration.--
       ``(A) In general.--A stay under this section may be granted 
     for not more than 180 days.
       ``(B) Extension.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Attorney General may petition the 
     court for an extension of the stay for additional periods not 
     to exceed 180 days.
       ``(ii) Recertification.--A court may grant an extension 
     under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary of State recertifies 
     that the United States remains engaged in good faith 
     discussions with the foreign state defendant concerning the 
     resolution of the claims against the foreign state, or any 
     other parties as to whom a stay of claims is sought. In 
     choosing whether to grant an extension, the court shall 
     balance the interests of the United States with the interests 
     of the plaintiffs in a timely review of their claims.''.
       (b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply to any action or omission described in section 
     1605C of title 28, United States Code, as added by that 
     subsection, that occurred before, on, or after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
       (c) Removal of Immunity From Attachment or Execution.--
     Section 1610 of title 28, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(7), by striking ``section 1605A or 
     section 1605(a)(7) (as such section was in effect on January 
     27, 2008)'' and inserting ``section 1605A, section 1605(a)(7) 
     (as such section was in effect on January 27, 2008), or 
     section 1605C'';
       (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``or 1605(b)'' and 
     inserting ``, 1605(b), or 1605C'';
       (3) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
       ``(d) The property of a foreign state, as defined in 
     section 1603(a) of this chapter, used for a commercial 
     activity in the United States, shall not be immune from 
     attachment prior to the entry of judgment in any action 
     brought in a court of the United States or of a State, or 
     prior to the elapse of the period of time provided in 
     subsection (c) of this section, if--
       ``(1) the foreign state has explicitly waived its immunity 
     from attachment prior to judgment, notwithstanding any 
     withdrawal of the waiver the foreign state may purport to 
     effect except in accordance with the terms of the waiver;
       ``(2) the purpose of the attachment is to secure 
     satisfaction of a judgment that has been or may ultimately be 
     entered against the foreign state, and not to obtain 
     jurisdiction; or
       ``(3) the attachment relates to a claim for which the 
     foreign state is not immune under section 1605C.''; and
       (4) in subsection (g)(1), in the matter preceding 
     subparagraph (A), by striking ``1605A'' and inserting ``1605A 
     or 1605C''.
       (d) Cause of Action.--Any citizen or resident of the United 
     States injured in his or her person, property, or business by 
     reason of any reckless action or omission (including a 
     conscious disregard of the need to report information 
     promptly or deliberately hiding relevant information) of a 
     foreign state, or of any official, employee, or agent of that 
     foreign state while acting within the scope of his or her 
     office, employment, or agency, that caused or substantially 
     contributed to the COVID-19 global pandemic in the United 
     States, regardless of where the action or omission occurred, 
     may sue therefor in any appropriate district court of the 
     United States and shall recover threefold the damages he or 
     she sustains and the cost of the suit, including attorney's 
     fees.
       (e) Enforcement by State Attorneys General.--Any State, on 
     its own behalf or on behalf of the citizens or residents of 
     the State, may bring a civil action under subsection (d) in a 
     district court of the United States. Nothing in this Act may 
     be construed to prevent a State from exercising its powers 
     under State law.
       (f) Time Limitation on the Commencement of Civil Action.--
     Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a civil action 
     arising under subsection (d) may be commenced up to 20 years 
     after the cause of action accrues.
       (g) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 97 of title 28, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1605B 
     the following:

``1605C. Responsibility of foreign states for reckless actions or 
              omissions causing the COVID-19 global pandemic in the 
              United States.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2569. Mr. TOOMEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:


[[Page S4947]]


  

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. FORGIVABLE BUSINESS PHYSICAL DISASTER LOANS FOR 
                   DAMAGE DUE TO CIVIL UNREST.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the terms ``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean 
     the Small Business Administration and the Administrator 
     thereof, respectively;
       (2) the term ``covered period'' means the period beginning 
     on May 26, 2020 and ending on July 1, 2020; and
       (3) the term ``eligible entity'' means a business concern--
       (A) with average annual receipts (as defined in section 
     121.104 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or any 
     successor regulation) of not more than $2,000,000; and
       (B) that--
       (i) is located within an area for which the Administrator 
     declared a disaster in accordance with section 123.3(a)(3) of 
     title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
     regulation, with respect to civil unrest that began on May 
     26, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and spread across the 
     United States; and
       (ii) incurred damage to real or personal property of the 
     business concern during the covered period as a result of the 
     civil unrest described in clause (i).
       (b) Business Physical Disaster Loans.--
       (1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
     subsection, an eligible entity shall be eligible for a loan 
     made by the Administration under section 7(b)(1) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(1)) under the same terms, 
     conditions, and processes as a loan made under such section 
     to repair, rehabilitate, or replace property, real or 
     personal, of the eligible entity that was damaged or 
     destroyed during the covered period as a result of the civil 
     unrest described in subsection (a)(3)(B)(i).
       (2) Disaster declaration.--With respect to the disaster 
     declaration described in subsection (a)(3)(B)(i) for a loan 
     made under paragraph (1), the requirement under section 
     123.3(a)(3)(ii) of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or 
     any successor regulation, that 25 percent or more of the work 
     force in the area would be unemployed for not fewer than 90 
     days shall not apply.
       (3) Loan amount.--
       (A) In general.--The amount of a loan made under paragraph 
     (1) shall be equal to 100 percent of the amount required to 
     repair, rehabilitate, or replace property, real or personal, 
     of the eligible entity that--
       (i) was damaged or destroyed during the covered period as a 
     result of the civil unrest described in subsection 
     (a)(3)(B)(i); and
       (ii) is not compensated for by--

       (I) insurance;
       (II) a grant from a State or local government; or
       (III) any other means.

       (B) Deduction of advance amount.--The amount of any advance 
     received by an eligible entity under subsection (c) shall be 
     deducted from the loan amount for the eligible entity under 
     subparagraph (A).
       (4) Terms; credit elsewhere.--
       (A) In general.--With respect to a loan made to an eligible 
     entity under paragraph (1)--
       (i) the Administrator shall waive--

       (I) any rules related the personal guarantee on loans of 
     not more than $200,000 during the covered period for all 
     applicants; and
       (II) any requirement that an applicant needs to be in 
     business for the 1-year period before the civil unrest 
     described in subsection (a)(3)(B)(i), except that no waiver 
     may be made for an eligible entity that was not in operation 
     on January 31, 2020;

       (ii) the eligible entity shall not be required to show that 
     the eligible entity is unable to obtain credit elsewhere; and
       (iii) no collateral shall be required for the loan.
       (B) Repayment.--Any payments on a loan made to an eligible 
     entity under paragraph (1) are deferred until June 30, 2022, 
     and interest shall not begin to accrue until such date.
       (5) Application.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 7 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall begin to 
     accept applications for a loan under paragraph (1).
       (B) Deadline.--An eligible entity desiring a loan under 
     this subsection shall submit to the Administrator an 
     application not later than December 31, 2020.
       (C) Approval and ability to repay.--With respect to an 
     applicant for a loan made under paragraph (1), the 
     Administrator may--
       (i) approve the applicant based on the credit score or 
     personal guarantee of the applicant; or
       (ii) use alternative appropriate methods to determine the 
     applicant's ability to repay.
       (6) Use of funds.--A recipient of a loan made under 
     paragraph (1) shall use the loan proceeds to repair, 
     rehabilitate, or replace property, real or personal, damaged 
     or destroyed during the covered period as a result of the 
     civil unrest described in subsection (a)(3)(B)(i), provided 
     that such damage or destruction is not compensated for by 
     insurance, a grant from a State or local government, or 
     otherwise.
       (7) Loan forgiveness.--
       (A) In general.--An eligible entity that received a loan 
     made under paragraph (1), or an eligible entity that received 
     a loan under section 7(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 636(b)(1)) before the date of enactment of this Act 
     related to the civil unrest described in subsection 
     (a)(3)(B)(i), shall be eligible for forgiveness of 
     indebtedness equal to 75 percent of the loan amount if the 
     eligible entity--
       (i) submits to the Administrator documentation of sales for 
     2019 and 2020 and tax returns for 2019 and 2020; and
       (ii) the eligible entity is in operation as of December 31, 
     2021.
       (B) Amounts not forgiven.--Any remaining amount of a loan 
     described in subparagraph (A) that is not forgiven under this 
     paragraph as of December 31, 2021 shall--
       (i) be considered a loan made under section 7(b)(1) of the 
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(1));
       (ii) bear an interest rate of 3.75 percent; and
       (iii) have a 30-year term.
       (8) Duplication.--An eligible entity that received a loan 
     under subsection (a)(36) or (b)(2) of section 7 of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) before the date of enactment of 
     this Act shall be eligible for a loan under paragraph (1) if 
     the proceeds of the loan made under such subsection (a)(36) 
     or (b)(2) are not used for the same expenses as the loan 
     under paragraph (1).
       (c) Emergency Grant.--
       (1) In general.--An eligible entity that applies for a loan 
     under subsection (b)(1) may request that the Administrator 
     provide an advance, subject to paragraph (3), to the eligible 
     entity not later than 10 days after the date on which the 
     Administrator receives an application from the eligible 
     entity.
       (2) Verification.--Before disbursing amounts under this 
     subsection, the Administrator shall verify that the applicant 
     is an eligible entity by accepting a self-certification from 
     the applicant under penalty of perjury pursuant to section 
     1746 of title 28, United States Code.
       (3) Amount.--The amount of an advance provided to an 
     eligible entity under this subsection shall be the lesser 
     of--
       (A) 20 percent of the amount requested by the eligible 
     entity; or
       (B) $10,000.
       (4) Use of funds.--An advance received under this 
     subsection shall only be used for the allowable uses for a 
     loan under subsection (b)(1).
       (5) Repayment.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided under subparagraph (B), 
     an eligible entity that receives an advance under this 
     subsection shall not be required to repay any amounts of the 
     advance.
       (B) Return of advance.--If an applicant for a loan under 
     subsection (b)(1) is later determined to be ineligible for 
     the loan because the applicant does not meet the requirements 
     to be an eligible entity described in subsection (a)(3), the 
     applicant shall return to the Administrator any advance 
     amount provided under this subsection--
       (i) not later than 90 days after receiving notice of the 
     determination of ineligibility; or
       (ii) if the Administrator determines that the applicant 
     submitted the application in bad faith, not later than 30 
     days after receiving notice of that determination, plus 
     interest in an amount equal to 4.75 percent of the advance.
       (d) Resources and Services in Languages Other Than 
     English.--The Administrator shall provide the resources and 
     services made available by the Administration relating to the 
     loans and grants available under this section to eligible 
     entities in the 10 most commonly spoken languages, other than 
     English, in the United States, which shall include Mandarin, 
     Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean.
       (e) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue guidance 
     and rules to carry out this section.
       (f) Direct Appropriation.--
       (1) In general.--There is appropriated, out of amounts in 
     the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2020, for an additional amount for 
     ``Small Business Administration--HEAL Act'', $80,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2021, for carrying out 
     this section.
       (2) Emergency designation.--
       (A) In general.--The amounts provided under this subsection 
     are 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)).
       (B) Designation in senate.--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.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2570. Mr. TOOMEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 178, to condemn gross human rights violations of 
ethnic Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary 
detention, torture, and harassment of these communities inside and 
outside China; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. FORGIVABLE BUSINESS PHYSICAL DISASTER LOANS FOR 
                   DAMAGE DUE TO CIVIL UNREST.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section--

[[Page S4948]]

       (1) the terms ``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean 
     the Small Business Administration and the Administrator 
     thereof, respectively;
       (2) the term ``covered period'' means the period beginning 
     on May 26, 2020 and ending on July 1, 2020; and
       (3) the term ``eligible entity'' means a business concern--
       (A) with average annual receipts (as defined in section 
     121.104 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or any 
     successor regulation) of not more than $2,000,000; and
       (B) that--
       (i) is located within an area for which the Administrator 
     declared a disaster in accordance with section 123.3(a)(3) of 
     title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
     regulation, with respect to civil unrest that began on May 
     26, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and spread across the 
     United States; and
       (ii) incurred damage to real or personal property of the 
     business concern during the covered period as a result of the 
     civil unrest described in clause (i).
       (b) Business Physical Disaster Loans.--
       (1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
     subsection, an eligible entity shall be eligible for a loan 
     made by the Administration under section 7(b)(1) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(1)) under the same terms, 
     conditions, and processes as a loan made under such section 
     to repair, rehabilitate, or replace property, real or 
     personal, of the eligible entity that was damaged or 
     destroyed during the covered period as a result of the civil 
     unrest described in subsection (a)(3)(B)(i).
       (2) Disaster declaration.--With respect to the disaster 
     declaration described in subsection (a)(3)(B)(i) for a loan 
     made under paragraph (1), the requirement under section 
     123.3(a)(3)(ii) of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or 
     any successor regulation, that 25 percent or more of the work 
     force in the area would be unemployed for not fewer than 90 
     days shall not apply.
       (3) Loan amount.--
       (A) In general.--The amount of a loan made under paragraph 
     (1) shall be equal to 100 percent of the amount required to 
     repair, rehabilitate, or replace property, real or personal, 
     of the eligible entity that--
       (i) was damaged or destroyed during the covered period as a 
     result of the civil unrest described in subsection 
     (a)(3)(B)(i); and
       (ii) is not compensated for by--

       (I) insurance;
       (II) a grant from a State or local government; or
       (III) any other means.

       (B) Deduction of advance amount.--The amount of any advance 
     received by an eligible entity under subsection (c) shall be 
     deducted from the loan amount for the eligible entity under 
     subparagraph (A).
       (4) Terms; credit elsewhere.--
       (A) In general.--With respect to a loan made to an eligible 
     entity under paragraph (1)--
       (i) the Administrator shall waive--

       (I) any rules related the personal guarantee on loans of 
     not more than $200,000 during the covered period for all 
     applicants; and
       (II) any requirement that an applicant needs to be in 
     business for the 1-year period before the civil unrest 
     described in subsection (a)(3)(B)(i), except that no waiver 
     may be made for an eligible entity that was not in operation 
     on January 31, 2020;

       (ii) the eligible entity shall not be required to show that 
     the eligible entity is unable to obtain credit elsewhere; and
       (iii) no collateral shall be required for the loan.
       (B) Repayment.--Any payments on a loan made to an eligible 
     entity under paragraph (1) are deferred until June 30, 2022, 
     and interest shall not begin to accrue until such date.
       (5) Application.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 7 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall begin to 
     accept applications for a loan under paragraph (1).
       (B) Deadline.--An eligible entity desiring a loan under 
     this subsection shall submit to the Administrator an 
     application not later than December 31, 2020.
       (C) Approval and ability to repay.--With respect to an 
     applicant for a loan made under paragraph (1), the 
     Administrator may--
       (i) approve the applicant based on the credit score or 
     personal guarantee of the applicant; or
       (ii) use alternative appropriate methods to determine the 
     applicant's ability to repay.
       (6) Use of funds.--A recipient of a loan made under 
     paragraph (1) shall use the loan proceeds to repair, 
     rehabilitate, or replace property, real or personal, damaged 
     or destroyed during the covered period as a result of the 
     civil unrest described in subsection (a)(3)(B)(i), provided 
     that such damage or destruction is not compensated for by 
     insurance, a grant from a State or local government, or 
     otherwise.
       (7) Loan forgiveness.--
       (A) In general.--An eligible entity that received a loan 
     made under paragraph (1), or an eligible entity that received 
     a loan under section 7(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 636(b)(1)) before the date of enactment of this Act 
     related to the civil unrest described in subsection 
     (a)(3)(B)(i), shall be eligible for forgiveness of 
     indebtedness equal to 75 percent of the loan amount if the 
     eligible entity--
       (i) submits to the Administrator documentation of sales for 
     2019 and 2020 and tax returns for 2019 and 2020; and
       (ii) the eligible entity is in operation as of December 31, 
     2021.
       (B) Amounts not forgiven.--Any remaining amount of a loan 
     described in subparagraph (A) that is not forgiven under this 
     paragraph as of December 31, 2021 shall--
       (i) be considered a loan made under section 7(b)(1) of the 
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(1));
       (ii) bear an interest rate of 3.75 percent; and
       (iii) have a 30-year term.
       (8) Duplication.--An eligible entity that received a loan 
     under subsection (a)(36) or (b)(2) of section 7 of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) before the date of enactment of 
     this Act shall be eligible for a loan under paragraph (1) if 
     the proceeds of the loan made under such subsection (a)(36) 
     or (b)(2) are not used for the same expenses as the loan 
     under paragraph (1).
       (c) Emergency Grant.--
       (1) In general.--An eligible entity that applies for a loan 
     under subsection (b)(1) may request that the Administrator 
     provide an advance, subject to paragraph (3), to the eligible 
     entity not later than 10 days after the date on which the 
     Administrator receives an application from the eligible 
     entity.
       (2) Verification.--Before disbursing amounts under this 
     subsection, the Administrator shall verify that the applicant 
     is an eligible entity by accepting a self-certification from 
     the applicant under penalty of perjury pursuant to section 
     1746 of title 28, United States Code.
       (3) Amount.--The amount of an advance provided to an 
     eligible entity under this subsection shall be the lesser 
     of--
       (A) 20 percent of the amount requested by the eligible 
     entity; or
       (B) $10,000.
       (4) Use of funds.--An advance received under this 
     subsection shall only be used for the allowable uses for a 
     loan under subsection (b)(1).
       (5) Repayment.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided under subparagraph (B), 
     an eligible entity that receives an advance under this 
     subsection shall not be required to repay any amounts of the 
     advance.
       (B) Return of advance.--If an applicant for a loan under 
     subsection (b)(1) is later determined to be ineligible for 
     the loan because the applicant does not meet the requirements 
     to be an eligible entity described in subsection (a)(3), the 
     applicant shall return to the Administrator any advance 
     amount provided under this subsection--
       (i) not later than 90 days after receiving notice of the 
     determination of ineligibility; or
       (ii) if the Administrator determines that the applicant 
     submitted the application in bad faith, not later than 30 
     days after receiving notice of that determination, plus 
     interest in an amount equal to 4.75 percent of the advance.
       (d) Resources and Services in Languages Other Than 
     English.--The Administrator shall provide the resources and 
     services made available by the Administration relating to the 
     loans and grants available under this section to eligible 
     entities in the 10 most commonly spoken languages, other than 
     English, in the United States, which shall include Mandarin, 
     Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean.
       (e) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue guidance 
     and rules to carry out this section.
       (f) Direct Appropriation.--
       (1) In general.--There is appropriated, out of amounts in 
     the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2020, for an additional amount for 
     ``Small Business Administration--HEAL Act'', $80,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2021, for carrying out 
     this section.
       (2) Emergency designation.--
       (A) In general.--The amounts provided under this subsection 
     are 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)).
       (B) Designation in senate.--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.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2571. Mr. JOHNSON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. AMENDMENTS TO THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE ACCOUNTABILITY 
                   COMMITTEE.

       (a) Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--The matter under the heading ``Independent 
     Agencies--Pandemic Response Accountability Committee'' in 
     title V of division B of the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136) 
     is amended by striking ``funds provided in'' and inserting 
     ``covered funds as provided in section 15010 of''.
       (2) Emergency designation.--The amounts repurposed in the 
     matter under the heading

[[Page S4949]]

     ``Independent Agencies--Pandemic Response Accountability 
     Committee'' in title V of division B of the CARES Act (Public 
     Law 116-136), as amended by paragraph (1), that were 
     previously designated by the Congress as an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985 are designated by the Congress as 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.
       (b) Definition of Covered Funds.--Section 15010(a)(6) of 
     division B of the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``this Act'' and 
     inserting ``divisions A and B of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, 
     and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136)'';
       (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``or'' at the end; and
       (3) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(D) the Paycheck Protection Program and Health 
     Enhancement Act (Public Law 116-139); or
       ``(E) the Coronavirus Relief Fair Unemployment Compensation 
     Act of 2020; and''.
       (c) Appointment of Chairperson.--Section 15010(c) of 
     division B of the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and (D)'' and inserting 
     ``(D), and (E)''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)(E), by inserting ``of the Council'' 
     after ``Chairperson''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2572. Mr. DAINES submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. ESTABLISHMENT AND USE OF TRAIL STEWARDSHIP FOR 
                   ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUND.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of 
     the United States a fund, to be known as the ``Trail 
     Stewardship for Economic Recovery Fund'' (referred to in this 
     section as the ``Fund'').
       (b) Deposit Into the Fund.--On the date of enactment of 
     this Act, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise 
     obligated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit into 
     the Fund $200,000,000, to remain available until expended and 
     without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation, to 
     carry out the purposes described in subsection (c).
       (c) Use of Fund.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
     through the Chief of the Forest Service (referred to in this 
     section as the ``Secretary''), shall use amounts in the Fund 
     to enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with an 
     outfitter or guide to complete, on National Forest System 
     land--
       (A) trail maintenance projects; and
       (B) additional invasive plant and noxious weed prevention 
     and control projects.
       (2) Preference.--In entering into cooperative agreements or 
     contracts under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
       (A) give preference to projects described in subparagraphs 
     (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) that can be performed in an area 
     that the Secretary has selected as a priority area under 
     section 5 of the National Forest System Trails Stewardship 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 583k-3); and
       (B) expedite projects with the goal of initiating the 
     majority of the projects not later than 120 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       (3) Contracts and agreements.--A cooperative agreement or 
     contract that is entered into under paragraph (1)--
       (A) shall not be subject to any requirement relating to the 
     procurement of matching funds under any other provision of 
     law; and
       (B) may contain such terms and conditions as the Secretary 
     requires.
       (d) Submission of List of Projects to Congress.--Not later 
     than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
     annually thereafter for each fiscal year for which amounts 
     made available under subsection (b) are expended, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural 
     Resources of the House of Representatives a list of projects 
     described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (c)(1) 
     that--
       (1) meet the criteria described in this section; and
       (2) have been, or are expected to be, funded from amounts 
     made available under subsection (b).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2573. Mr. GRASSLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PANDEMIC RECOVERY.

       Section 4018(e) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9053) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``The Special'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
     Special''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Additional authorities.--
       ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), the Special 
     Inspector General may exercise any authority provided to the 
     head of a temporary organization under section 3161 of title 
     5, United States Code, without regard to whether the Office 
     of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery 
     qualifies as a temporary organization under subsection (a) of 
     that section.
       ``(ii) Limitations.--With respect to the exercise of 
     authority under subsection (b) of section 3161 of title 5, 
     United States Code, as permitted under clause (i) of this 
     subparagraph--

       ``(I) the Special Inspector General may not make any 
     appointment under that subsection on or after the later of--

       ``(aa) the date that is 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this subparagraph; or
       ``(bb) the date that is 180 days after the date on which 
     the Special Inspector General is confirmed by the Senate;

       ``(II) paragraph (2) of that subsection (relating to 
     periods of appointments) shall not apply; and
       ``(III) no period of an appointment made under that 
     subsection may extend after the date on which the Office of 
     the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery 
     terminates under subsection (h).''; and

       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Reemployment of annuitants.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), if an 
     annuitant receiving an annuity from the Civil Service 
     Retirement and Disability Fund becomes employed in a position 
     in the Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic 
     Recovery--
       ``(i) the annuity of that annuitant shall continue; and
       ``(ii) that reemployed annuitant shall not be considered to 
     be an employee for the purposes of chapter 83 or 84 of title 
     5, United States Code.
       ``(B) Limitations.--Subparagraph (A) shall apply to--
       ``(i) not more than 25 employees of the Office of the 
     Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery at any 
     particular time, as designated by the Special Inspector 
     General; and
       ``(ii) pay periods beginning after the date of enactment of 
     this paragraph.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2574. Mr. CRAMER (for himself, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Perdue, Mrs. 
Capito, Mr. Moran, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Boozman, 
Ms. McSally, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Daines, Mrs. Loeffler, Mr. Wicker, Mr. 
Rounds, and Mr. Lankford) submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 
178, to condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims 
in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, 
and harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR PPP LOANS UNDER $150,000.

       Section 1106 of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9005) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding paragraph 
     (1), by striking ``An eligible'' and inserting ``Except as 
     provided in subsection (m), an eligible'';
       (2) in subsection (f), by inserting ``or the information 
     required under subsection (m), as applicable'' after 
     ``subsection (e)'';
       (3) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
       ``(h) Hold Harmless.--
       ``(1) In general.--A lender may rely on all certifications 
     and documentation submitted by an applicant or eligible 
     recipient pursuant to any requirement in statute regarding 
     covered loans, or rules or guidance promulgated to carry out 
     any action relating to covered loans, from an applicant or 
     eligible recipient attesting that the applicant or eligible 
     recipient has accurately verified all documentation provided 
     to the lender.
       ``(2) No enforcement action.--With respect to a lender that 
     relies on the certifications and documentation described in 
     paragraph (1)--
       ``(A) no enforcement or other action may be taken against 
     the lender relating to loan origination, forgiveness, or 
     guarantee based on such reliance, including claims under--
       ``(i) the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.);
       ``(ii) sections 3729 through 3733 of title 31, United 
     States Code (commonly known as the `False Claims Act');
       ``(iii) the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and 
     Enforcement Act (Public Law 101-73);
       ``(iv) section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 
     U.S.C. 1829b), chapter 2 of title I of Public Law 91-508 (12 
     U.S.C. 1951 et seq.), and subchapter II of chapter 53 of 
     title 31, United States Code (collectively known as the `Bank 
     Secrecy Act'); or

[[Page S4950]]

       ``(v) any other Federal, State, or other criminal or civil 
     law or regulation; and
       ``(B) the lender shall not be subject to any penalties 
     relating to loan origination, forgiveness, or guarantee based 
     on such reliance.''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(m) Forgiveness for Covered Loans Under $150,000.--
       ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (e), with 
     respect to a covered loan made to an eligible recipient that 
     is not more than $150,000, the covered loan amount shall be 
     forgiven under this section if the eligible recipient submits 
     to the lender a one-page online or paper form, to be 
     established by the Administrator not later than 7 days after 
     the date of enactment of this subsection, that attests that 
     the eligible recipient complied with the requirements under 
     section 7(a)(36) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     636(a)(36)).
       ``(2) Hold harmless.--With respect to a lender that relies 
     on an attestation submitted by an eligible recipient under 
     paragraph (1), no enforcement action may be taken against the 
     lender for any falsehoods contained in the attestation.
       ``(3) Demographic information.--The online or paper form 
     established by the Administrator under paragraph (1) shall 
     include a means by which an eligible recipient may, at the 
     discretion of the eligible recipient, submit demographic 
     information of the owner of the eligible recipient, including 
     the sex, race, ethnicity, and veteran status of the owner.
       ``(n) Enforcement Action Against Borrowers.--An eligible 
     recipient of a covered loan may only be subject to an 
     enforcement action or penalty relating to loan origination, 
     forgiveness, or guarantee of the covered loan if the eligible 
     recipient commits fraud or expends covered loan proceeds on 
     expenses that are not allowable under section 7(a)(36)(F) of 
     the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)(F)).''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2575. Mr. CRAMER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. KEEPING CRITICAL CONNECTIONS EMERGENCY FUND.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the 
     ``Keeping Critical Connections Act of 2020''.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
     Communications Commission;
       (2) the term ``covered program'' means a program 
     established by a small business broadband provider under 
     which the small business broadband provider, at any time 
     during the COVID-19 emergency period, voluntarily--
       (A) provides a customer with free or discounted broadband 
     service, or free upgrades of existing service to meet certain 
     capacity and speed needs, due specifically to the presence of 
     a student in the household of the customer who needs distance 
     learning capability; or
       (B) refrains from disconnecting broadband service provided 
     to an existing customer due to nonpayment or underpayment if 
     the customer--
       (i) has a household income, at the time of the nonpayment 
     or underpayment, that does not exceed 135 percent of the 
     Federal poverty guidelines (as determined by the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services);
       (ii) is unable to make a full payment due specifically to 
     the economic impact of the national emergency described in 
     paragraph (3); and
       (iii) provides sufficient documentation to the provider to 
     show that the customer meets the criteria under clauses (i) 
     and (ii);
       (3) the term ``COVID-19 emergency period'' means the period 
     during which the national emergency declaration by the 
     President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 
     et seq.) with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-
     19) is in effect; and
       (4) the term ``small business broadband provider'' means a 
     broadband provider that provides broadband service to fewer 
     than 500,000 customers.
       (c) Funding.--
       (1) Appropriation.--Out of any funds in the Treasury not 
     otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the 
     Commission $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, to remain 
     available until expended, to reimburse small business 
     broadband providers for the costs of carrying out a covered 
     program.
       (2) Rules.--The Commission shall promulgate rules on an 
     expedited basis, and without regard to section 553 of title 
     5, United States Code, regarding the provision of 
     reimbursements to small business broadband providers under 
     paragraph (1).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2576. Mr. CRAMER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end, add the following:

     SEC. __. TAX CREDIT FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

       (a) In General.--In the case of an eligible employer, there 
     shall be allowed as a credit against applicable employment 
     taxes for each calendar quarter an amount equal to 50 percent 
     of the qualified expenses paid or incurred by such employer 
     during such calendar quarter.
       (b) Limitations and Refundability.--
       (1) Limitation.--The qualified fixed expenses which may be 
     taken into account under subsection (a) by any eligible 
     employer for any calendar quarter shall not exceed--
       (A) in the case of any calendar quarter beginning in 2020, 
     $500,000, and
       (B) in the case of any calendar quarter beginning after 
     2020, $250,000.
       (2) Credit limited to certain employment taxes.--The credit 
     allowed by subsection (a) with respect to any calendar 
     quarter shall not exceed the applicable employment taxes for 
     such calendar quarter (reduced by any credits allowed under 
     subsections (e) and (f) of section 3111 of such Code, 
     sections 7001 and 7003 of the Families First Coronavirus 
     Response Act, and section 2301 of the CARES Act, for such 
     quarter) on the wages paid with respect to the employment of 
     all the employees of the eligible employer for such calendar 
     quarter.
       (3) Refundability of excess credit.--
       (A) In general.--If the amount of the credit under 
     subsection (a) exceeds the limitation of paragraph (2) for 
     any calendar quarter, such excess shall be treated as an 
     overpayment that shall be refunded under sections 6402(a) and 
     6413(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       (B) Treatment of payments.--For purposes of section 1324 of 
     title 31, United States Code, any amounts due to an employer 
     under this paragraph shall be treated in the same manner as a 
     refund due from a credit provision referred to in subsection 
     (b)(2) of such section.
       (c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
       (1) Applicable employment taxes.--The term ``applicable 
     employment taxes'' means the following:
       (A) The taxes imposed under section 3111(a) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986.
       (B) So much of the taxes imposed under section 3221(a) of 
     such Code as are attributable to the rate in effect under 
     section 3111(a) of such Code.
       (2) Eligible employer.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``eligible employer'' means any 
     employer--
       (i) which was carrying on a trade or business at any time 
     during calendar quarter, and
       (ii) which has not more than 2,000 full-time equivalent 
     employees (within the meaning of section 45R(d)(2) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986) for the taxable year.
       (B) Tax-exempt organizations.--In the case of an 
     organization which is described in section 501(c) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under 
     section 501(a) of such Code, subparagraph (A)(i) shall apply 
     to all operations of such organization.
       (3) Qualified expenses.--For purposes of this section--
       (A) In general.--The term ``qualified expenses'' means any 
     amount paid or incurred after February 1, 2020, for--
       (i) qualified equipment and services for the purposes of 
     preventing infection related to SARS-CoV-2, or
       (ii) the reconfiguration of facilities for such purposes, 
     or
       (iii) qualified education and training of employees for new 
     business procedures related to preventing COVID-19 
     transmission.
       (B) Qualified equipment and services.--The term ``qualified 
     equipment and services'' means--
       (i) any product or material which--

       (I) serves as personal protective equipment or as a barrier 
     erected to prevent virus spread between customers and 
     employees, including plexiglass installed at cashiers and 
     other counters, and partitions to separate customers,
       (II) is a disinfectant product registered by the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for 
     which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
     Agency has approved an emerging viral pathogen claim that 
     applies with respect to use against SARS-CoV-2,
       (III) is a thermometer, or
       (IV) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for 
     testing for COVID-19 (including diagnosic testing and 
     serology testing to detect antibodies) by the eligible 
     employer, in conjunction with a certified diagnostics 
     laboratory or health care provider,

       (ii) any--

       (I) contactless point-of-sale system,
       (II) new software and technology to assist in maintaining 
     social distancing,
       (III) application for reporting employee symptom or 
     providing wellness checks, and
       (IV) property used to enable curbside pickup or delivery 
     services,

       (iii) hand sanitizer,
       (iv) any sign related to public health awareness, social 
     distancing, or altered services such as curbside pickups, and

[[Page S4951]]

       (v) services for--

       (I) cleaning and disinfecting, or
       (II) testing for COVID-19 by a certified diagnostics 
     laboratory, and

       (vi) such other equipment or technology as determined by 
     the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Director of 
     the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 
     Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, and 
     the Secretary of Agriculture, determines is necessary and 
     appropriate for preventing COVID-19 and is recommended as 
     part of the Federal government's recommendations for safe 
     workplaces.
     Such term shall not include any equipment which is not for 
     use in the United States or any service which is not 
     conducted in the United States.
       (C) Qualified education and training.--The term ``qualified 
     education and training'' means education or training provided 
     by an accredited training institution, an industry-recognized 
     trade association, or another nonprofit entity.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Treasury or the Secretary's delegate.
       (d) Aggregation Rule.--All persons treated as a single 
     employer under subsection (a) or (b) of section 52 of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or subsection (m) or (o) of 
     section 414 of such Code, shall be treated as one employer 
     for purposes of this section.
       (e) Denial of Double Benefit.--For purposes of chapter 1 of 
     such Code, the gross income of any eligible employer, for the 
     taxable year which includes the last day of any calendar 
     quarter with respect to which a credit is allowed under this 
     section, shall be increased by the amount of such credit.
       (f) Election Not To Have Section Apply.--This section shall 
     not apply with respect to any eligible employer for any 
     calendar quarter if such employer elects (at such time and in 
     such manner as the Secretary may prescribe) not to have this 
     section apply.
       (g) Transfers to Certain Trust Funds.--There are hereby 
     appropriated to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance 
     Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund 
     established under section 201 of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 401) and the Social Security Equivalent Benefit 
     Account established under section 15A(a) of the Railroad 
     Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 231n-1(a)) amounts equal to 
     the reduction in revenues to the Treasury by reason of this 
     section (without regard to this subsection). Amounts 
     appropriated by the preceding sentence shall be transferred 
     from the general fund at such times and in such manner as to 
     replicate to the extent possible the transfers which would 
     have occurred to such Trust Fund or Account had this section 
     not been enacted.
       (h) Treatment of Deposits.--The Secretary shall waive any 
     penalty under section 6656 of such Code for any failure to 
     make a deposit of applicable employment taxes if the 
     Secretary determines that such failure was due to the 
     anticipation of the credit allowed under this section.
       (i) Regulations and Guidance.--The Secretary shall issue 
     such forms, instructions, regulations, and guidance as are 
     necessary--
       (1) to allow the advance payment of the credit under 
     subsection (a), subject to the limitations provided in this 
     section, based on such information as the Secretary shall 
     require,
       (2) to provide for the reconciliation of such advance 
     payment with the amount of the credit at the time of filing 
     the return of tax for the applicable quarter or taxable year,
       (3) with respect to the application of the credit under 
     subsection (a) to third-party payors (including professional 
     employer organizations, certified professional employer 
     organizations, or agents under section 3504 of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986), including regulations or guidance 
     allowing such payors to submit documentation necessary to 
     substantiate the eligible employer status of employers that 
     use such payors,
       (4) for recapturing the benefit of credits determined under 
     this section in cases where there is a subsequent adjustment 
     to the credit determined under subsection (a), and
       (5) for providing the benefit of the credit under 
     subsection (a) to taxpayers who have already filed returns 
     for calendar quarters ending before the date of the enactment 
     of this Act.
       (j) Application of Section.--This section shall apply only 
     to qualified fixed expenses paid or accrued in calendar 
     quarters ending on or after February 1, 2020, and beginning 
     before January 1, 2022.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2577. Mr. BARRASSO submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. EXPEDITED PERMITTING AUTHORITY FOR BROADBAND 
                   DEPLOYMENT ON FEDERAL LAND.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means land 
     owned by the Federal Government.
       (2) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
     means the Secretary of the department that administers the 
     Federal land on which a project described in subsection (b) 
     is carried out.
       (b) Expedited Permitting Authority.--The Secretary 
     concerned shall expedite the approval of permits for a 
     project for the deployment of broadband infrastructure on 
     highway or road rights-of-way, easements, or other licensed 
     or permitted access points on Federal land, including by 
     waiving any applicable requirements for the approval of those 
     permits, as the Secretary concerned determines to be 
     appropriate.
       (c) Requirements.--
       (1) Management.--The holder of a permit described in 
     subsection (b) shall be responsible for the management and 
     oversight of a project described in that subsection.
       (2) Right-of-way.--A project described in subsection (b) 
     shall be carried out in accordance with requirements of the 
     applicable right-of-way, except that a reclamation bond shall 
     not be required for the project.
       (d) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided by 
     this section shall terminate effective July 1, 2021.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2578. Ms. ERNST submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. HAZARDOUS DUTY PAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 
                   PERFORMING DUTY IN RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS 
                   DISEASE 2019.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the military department 
     concerned shall pay hazardous duty pay under this section to 
     a member of a regular or reserve component of the Armed 
     Forces who--
       (1) performs duty in response to the Coronavirus Disease 
     2019 (COVID-19); and
       (2) is entitled to basic pay under section 204 of title 37, 
     United States Code, or compensation under section 206 of such 
     title, for the performance of such duty.
       (b) Regulations.--Hazardous duty pay shall be payable under 
     this section in accordance with regulations prescribed by the 
     Secretary of Defense. Such regulations shall specify the duty 
     in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 qualifying a 
     member for payment of such pay under this section.
       (c) Amount.--The amount of hazardous duty pay paid a member 
     under this section shall be such amount per month, not less 
     than $150 per month, as the Secretary of Defense shall 
     specify in the regulations under subsection (b).
       (d) Monthly Payment; No Proration.--
       (1) Monthly payment.--Hazardous duty pay under this section 
     shall be paid on a monthly basis.
       (2) No proration.--Hazardous duty pay is payable to a 
     member under this section for a month if the member performs 
     any duty in that month qualifying the person for payment of 
     such pay.
       (e) Months for Which Payable.--Hazardous duty pay is 
     payable under this section for qualifying duty performed in 
     months occurring during the period--
       (1) beginning on January 1, 2020; and
       (2) ending on December 31, 2020.
       (f) Construction With Other Pay.--Hazardous duty pay 
     payable to a member under this section is in addition to the 
     following:
       (1) Any other pay and allowances to which the member is 
     entitled by law.
       (2) Any other hazardous duty pay to which the member is 
     entitled under section 351 of title 37, United States Code 
     (or any other provision of law), for duty that also 
     constitutes qualifying duty for payment of such pay under 
     this section.
       (g) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that 
     the Secretary of Defense should also authorize hazardous duty 
     pay for members of the Armed Forces not under orders specific 
     to the response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 who provide--
       (1) healthcare in a military medical treatment facility for 
     individuals infected with the Coronavirus Disease 2019; or
       (2) technical or administrative support for the provision 
     of healthcare as described in paragraph (1).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2579. Ms. ERNST submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

[[Page S4952]]

  


     SEC. __. PROHIBITION ON THE PURCHASE OF DOGS AND CATS FROM 
                   WET MARKETS IN CHINA USING FEDERAL FUNDS.

       (a) Definition of Wet Market.--In this section, the term 
     ``wet market'' means a marketplace--
       (1) where fresh meat, fish, and live animals are bought, 
     sold, and slaughtered; and
       (2) that is not regulated under any standardized sanitary 
     or health inspection processes that meet applicable standards 
     required for similar establishments in the United States, as 
     determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.
       (b) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, no Federal funds made available by any law may be used 
     by the Federal Government, or any recipient of the Federal 
     funds under a contract, grant, subgrant, or other assistance, 
     to purchase from a wet market in China--
       (1) a live cat, dog, or other animal;
       (2) a carcass, any part, or any item containing any part of 
     a cat, dog, or other animal; or
       (3) any other animal product.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2580. Ms. ERNST submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 178, to condemn gross human rights violations of 
ethnic Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary 
detention, torture, and harassment of these communities inside and 
outside China; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end, add the following:

     SEC. __. TERMINATION OF TAXPAYER FINANCING OF PRESIDENTIAL 
                   ELECTION CAMPAIGNS.

       (a) Termination of Designation of Income Tax Payments.--
     Section 6096 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(d) Termination.--This section shall not apply to taxable 
     years beginning after December 31, 2019.''.
       (b) Termination of Fund and Account.--
       (1) Termination of presidential election campaign fund.--
       (A) In general.--Chapter 95 of subtitle H of such Code is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 9013. TERMINATION.

       ``The provisions of this chapter shall not apply with 
     respect to any Presidential election (or any Presidential 
     nominating convention) after the date of the enactment of 
     this section, or to any candidate in such an election.''.
       (B) Transfer of remaining funds.--Section 9006 of such Code 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(d) Transfer of Funds Remaining After Termination.--The 
     Secretary shall transfer the amounts in the fund as of the 
     date of the enactment of this subsection to the Department of 
     Health and Human Services to be used to acquire unexpired 
     personal protective equipment (including face masks) for the 
     strategic national stockpile under section 319F-2 of the 
     Public Health Service Act.''.
       (2) Termination of account.--Chapter 96 of subtitle H of 
     such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 9043. TERMINATION.

       ``The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any 
     candidate with respect to any Presidential election after the 
     date of the enactment of this section.''.
       (c) Clerical Amendments.--
       (1) The table of sections for chapter 95 of subtitle H of 
     such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     item:

``Sec. 9013. Termination.''.
       (2) The table of sections for chapter 96 of subtitle H of 
     such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     item:
       

``Sec. 9043. Termination.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2581. Ms. ERNST submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the end, add the following:

     SEC. 3. PROHIBITING PAYMENT OF PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT 
                   ASSISTANCE AND FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT 
                   COMPENSATION TO MILLIONAIRES.

       (a) Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.--Section 2102 of the 
     Relief for Workers Affected by Coronavirus Act (contained in 
     subtitle A of title II of division A of the CARES Act (Public 
     Law 116-136)) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(3)(B)--
       (A) in clause (i), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(iii) an individual whose adjusted gross income is equal 
     to or greater than $1,000,000.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(i) Prohibition on Assistance to Millionaires.--
       ``(1) Compliance.--Any application for assistance 
     authorized under subsection (b) shall include a form or 
     procedure for an individual applicant to certify that such 
     individual is not prohibited from receiving such assistance 
     pursuant to subsection (a)(3)(B)(iii).
       ``(2) Audits.--The certifications required by paragraph (1) 
     shall be auditable by the Department of Labor or the 
     Government Accountability Office.''.
       (b) Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.--Section 
     2104(b) of the Relief for Workers Affected by Coronavirus Act 
     (contained in subtitle A of title II of division A of the 
     CARES Act (Public Law 116-136)), as amended by section 
     2(b)(1)(B), is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(4) Prohibition on compensation to millionaires.--
       ``(A) In general.--Federal Pandemic Unemployment 
     Compensation shall not be payable to any individual whose 
     adjusted gross income is equal to or greater than $1,000,000.
       ``(B) Compliance.--Any application for regular compensation 
     shall include a form or procedure for an individual applicant 
     to certify that such individual is not prohibited from 
     receiving Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation pursuant 
     to subparagraph (A).
       ``(C) Audits.--The certifications required by subparagraph 
     (B) shall be auditable by the Department of Labor or the 
     Government Accountability Office.''.
       (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section, or any 
     amendment made by this section, may be construed to apply to 
     regular compensation or extended compensation (as such terms 
     are defined by section 205 of the Federal-State Extended 
     Unemployment Compensation Act (26 U.S.C. 3304 note)) to which 
     an individual may be otherwise entitled.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2582. Ms. ERNST (for herself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Young, 
and Mr. Daines) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

                               TITLE __--

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                Administration for Children and Families

                     back to work child care grants

       For an additional amount for ``Back to Work Child Care 
     Grants'', $10,000,000,000, to remain available through 
     September 30, 2021, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to 
     coronavirus, domestically or internationally, which shall be 
     for activities to carry out Back to Work Child Care Grants to 
     qualified child care providers, for a transition period of 
     not more than 9 months to assist in paying for fixed costs 
     and increased operating expenses due to COVID-19, and to 
     reenroll children in an environment that supports the health 
     and safety of children and staff:  Provided, That such amount 
     is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
       Sec. __. (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to 
     support the recovery of the United States economy by 
     providing assistance to aid in reopening child care programs, 
     and maintaining the availability of child care in the United 
     States, so that parents can access safe child care and return 
     to work.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covid-19 public health emergency.--The term ``COVID-19 
     public health emergency'' means the public health emergency 
     declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under 
     section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) 
     on January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID-19, including any 
     renewal of such declaration.
       (2) Eligible child care provider.--The term ``eligible 
     child care provider'' means--
       (A) an eligible child care provider as defined in section 
     658P(6)(A) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act 
     of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n(6)(A)); and
       (B) a child care provider that--
       (i) is license-exempt and operating legally in the State;
       (ii) is not providing child care services to relatives; and
       (iii) satisfies State and local requirements, including 
     those referenced in section 658E(c)(2)(I) of the Child Care 
     and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ((42 U.S.C. 
     9858c)(c)(2)(I)).
       (3) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms ``Indian 
     tribe'' and ``tribal organization'' have the meanings given 
     the terms in section 658P of the Child Care and Development 
     Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n).
       (4) Lead agency.--The term ``lead agency'' has the meaning 
     given the term in section

[[Page S4953]]

     658P of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 
     1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n).
       (5) Qualified child care provider.--The term ``qualified 
     child care provider'' means an eligible child care provider 
     with an application approved under subsection (g) for the 
     program involved.
       (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services.
       (7) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 658P of the Child Care and Development Block 
     Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n).
       (c) Grants for Child Care Programs.--From the funds 
     appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary shall 
     make Back to Work Child Care grants to States, Indian tribes, 
     and tribal organizations, that submit notices of intent to 
     provide assurances under subsection (d)(2). The grants shall 
     provide for subgrants to qualified child care providers, for 
     a transition period of not more than 9 months, to assist in 
     paying for fixed costs and increased operating expenses due 
     to COVID-19 and to reenroll children in an environment that 
     supports the health and safety of children and staff.
       (d) Process for Allocation of Funds.--
       (1) Allocation.--Any funds that are appropriated to carry 
     out this section shall be distributed by the Secretary to the 
     Administration for Children and Families for distribution 
     under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 
     (42 U.S.C. 9857 et seq.) in accordance with subsection 
     (e)(2).
       (2) Notice.--Not later than 7 days after funds are 
     appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary shall 
     provide to States, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations a 
     notice of funding availability for Back to Work Child Care 
     grants under subsection (c) from allotments and payments 
     under subsection (e)(2). The Secretary shall issue a notice 
     of the funding allocations for each State, Indian tribe, and 
     tribal organization not later than 14 days after funds are 
     appropriated to carry out this section.
       (3) Notice of intent.--Not later than 14 days after 
     issuance of a notice of funding allocations under paragraph 
     (1), a State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization that seeks 
     such a grant shall submit to the Secretary a notice of intent 
     to provide assurances for such grant. The notice of intent 
     shall include a certification that the State, Indian tribe, 
     or tribal organization will repay the grant funds if such 
     State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization fails to provide 
     assurances that meet the requirements of subsection (f) or to 
     comply with such an assurance.
       (4) Grants to lead agencies.--The Secretary may make grants 
     under subsection (c) to the lead agency of each State, Indian 
     tribe, or tribal organization, upon receipt of the notice of 
     intent to provide assurances for such grant.
       (5) Provision of assurances.--Not later than 15 days after 
     receiving the grant, the State, Indian tribe, or tribal 
     organization shall provide assurances that meet the 
     requirements of subsection (f).
       (e) Federal Reservation; Allotments and Payments.--
       (1) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve not more than 
     1 percent of the amount appropriated to carry out this 
     section to pay for the costs of the Federal administration of 
     this section. The amount appropriated to carry out this 
     section and reserved under this paragraph shall remain 
     available through fiscal year 2021.
       (2) Allotments and payments.--The Secretary shall use the 
     remaining portion of such amount to make allotments and 
     payments, to States, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations 
     that submit a notice of intent under subsection (d)(3) to 
     provide assurances, in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2) 
     of subsection (a), and subsection (b), of section 658O of the 
     Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     9858m), for the grants described in subsection (c).
       (f) Assurances.--A State, Indian tribe, or tribal 
     organization that receives a grant under subsection (c) shall 
     provide to the Secretary assurances that the lead agency 
     will--
       (1) require as a condition of subgrant funding under 
     subsection (g) that each eligible child care provider 
     applying for a subgrant from the lead agency--
       (A) has been an eligible child care provider in continuous 
     operation and serving children through a child care program 
     immediately prior to March 1, 2020;
       (B) agree to follow all applicable State, local, and tribal 
     health and safety requirements and, if applicable, enhanced 
     protocols for child care services and related to COVID-19 or 
     another health or safety condition;
       (C) agree to comply with the documentation and reporting 
     requirements under subsection (h); and
       (D) certify in good faith that the child care program of 
     the provider will remain open for not less than 1 year after 
     receiving such a subgrant, unless such program is closed due 
     to extraordinary circumstances, including a state of 
     emergency declared by the Governor or a major disaster or 
     emergency declared by the President under section 401 or 501, 
     respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191);
       (2) ensure eligible child care providers in urban, 
     suburban, and rural areas can readily apply for and access 
     funding under this section, which shall include the provision 
     of technical assistance either directly or through resource 
     and referral agencies or staffed family child care provider 
     networks;
       (3) ensure that subgrant funds are made available to 
     eligible child care providers regardless of whether the 
     eligible child care provider is providing services for which 
     assistance is made available under the Child Care and 
     Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9857 et seq.) 
     at the time of application for a subgrant;
       (4) through at least December 31, 2020, continue to expend 
     funds provided under the Child Care and Development Block 
     Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9857 et seq.) for the purpose of 
     continuing payments and assistance to qualified child care 
     providers on the basis of applicable reimbursements prior to 
     March 2020;
       (5) undertake a review of burdensome State, local, and 
     tribal regulations and requirements that hinder the opening 
     of new licensed child care programs to meet the needs of the 
     working families in the State or tribal community, as 
     applicable;
       (6) make available to the public, which shall include, at a 
     minimum, posting to an internet website of the lead agency--
       (A) notice of funding availability through subgrants for 
     qualified child care providers under this section; and
       (B) the criteria for awarding subgrants for qualified child 
     care providers, including the methodology the lead agency 
     used to determine and disburse funds in accordance with 
     subparagraphs (D) and (E) of subsection (g)(4); and
       (7) ensure the maintenance of a delivery system of child 
     care services throughout the State that provides for child 
     care in a variety of settings, including the settings of 
     family child care providers.
       (g) Lead Agency Use of Funds.--
       (1) In general.--A lead agency that receives a Back to Work 
     Child Care grant under this section--
       (A) shall use a portion that is not less than 94 percent of 
     the grant funds to award subgrants to qualified child care 
     providers as described in the lead agency's assurances 
     pursuant to subsection (f);
       (B) shall reserve not more than 6 percent of the funds to--
       (i) use not less than 1 percent of the funds to provide 
     technical assistance and support in applying for and 
     accessing funding through such subgrants to eligible child 
     care providers, including to rural providers, family child 
     care providers, and providers with limited administrative 
     capacity; and
       (ii) use the remainder of the reserved funds to--

       (I) administer subgrants to qualified child care providers 
     under paragraph (4), which shall include monitoring the 
     compliance of qualified child care providers with applicable 
     State, local, and tribal health and safety requirements; and
       (II) comply with the reporting and documentation 
     requirements described in subsection (h); and

       (C)(i) shall not make more than 1 subgrant under paragraph 
     (4) to a qualified child care provider, except as described 
     in clause (ii); and
       (ii) may make multiple subgrants to a qualified child care 
     provider, if the lead agency makes each subgrant individually 
     for 1 child care program operated by the provider and the 
     funds from the multiple subgrants are not pooled for use for 
     more than 1 of the programs.
       (2) Role of third party.--The lead agency may designate a 
     third party, such as a child care resource and referral 
     agency, to carry out the responsibilities of the lead agency, 
     and oversee the activities conducted by qualified child care 
     providers under this subsection.
       (3) Obligation and return of funds.--
       (A) Obligation.--
       (i) In general.--The lead agency shall obligate at least 50 
     percent of the grant funds in the portion described in 
     paragraph (1)(A) for subgrants to qualified child care 
     providers by the day that is 6 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
       (ii) Waivers.--At the request of a State, Indian tribe, or 
     tribal organization, and for good cause shown, the Secretary 
     may waive the requirement under clause (i) for the State, 
     Indian tribe, or tribal organization.
       (B) Return of funds.--Not later than the date that is 12 
     months after a grant is awarded to a lead agency in 
     accordance with this section, the lead agency shall return to 
     the Secretary any of the grant funds that are not obligated 
     by the lead agency by such date. The Secretary shall return 
     any funds received under this subparagraph to the Treasury of 
     the United States.
       (4) Subgrants.--
       (A) In general.--A lead agency that receives a grant under 
     subsection (c) shall make subgrants to qualified child care 
     providers to assist in paying for fixed costs and increased 
     operating expenses, for a transition period of not more than 
     9 months, so that parents have a safe place for their 
     children to receive child care as the parents return to the 
     workplace.
       (B) Use of funds.--A qualified child care provider may use 
     subgrant funds for--
       (i) sanitation and other costs associated with cleaning the 
     facility, including deep cleaning in the case of an outbreak 
     of COVID-19, of a child care program used to provide child 
     care services;
       (ii) recruiting, retaining, and compensating child care 
     staff, including providing professional development to the 
     staff related to child care services and applicable State, 
     local, and tribal health and safety requirements and, if 
     applicable, enhanced protocols for child care services and 
     related to COVID-19 or another health or safety condition;

[[Page S4954]]

       (iii) paying for fixed operating costs associated with 
     providing child care services, including the costs of 
     payroll, the continuation of existing (as of March 1, 2020) 
     employee benefits, mortgage or rent, utilities, and 
     insurance;
       (iv) acquiring equipment and supplies (including personal 
     protective equipment) necessary to provide child care 
     services in a manner that is safe for children and staff in 
     accordance with applicable State, local, and tribal health 
     and safety requirements;
       (v) replacing materials that are no longer safe to use as a 
     result of the COVID-19 public health emergency;
       (vi) making facility changes and repairs to address 
     enhanced protocols for child care services related to COVID-
     19 or another health or safety condition, to ensure children 
     can safely occupy a child care facility;
       (vii) purchasing or updating equipment and supplies to 
     serve children during nontraditional hours;
       (viii) adapting the child care program or curricula to 
     accommodate children who have not had recent access to a 
     child care setting;
       (ix) carrying out any other activity related to the child 
     care program of a qualified child care provider; and
       (x) reimbursement of expenses incurred before the provider 
     received a subgrant under this paragraph, if the use for 
     which the expenses are incurred is described in any of 
     clauses (i) though (ix) and is disclosed in the subgrant 
     application for such subgrant.
       (C) Subgrant application.--To be qualified to receive a 
     subgrant under this paragraph, an eligible child care 
     provider shall submit an application to the lead agency in 
     such form and containing such information as the lead agency 
     may reasonably require, including--
       (i) a budget plan that includes--

       (I) information describing how the eligible child care 
     provider will use the subgrant funds to pay for fixed costs 
     and increased operating expenses, including, as applicable, 
     payroll, employee benefits, mortgage or rent, utilities, and 
     insurance, described in subparagraph (B)(iii);
       (II) data on current operating capacity, taking into 
     account previous operating capacity for a period of time 
     prior to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and updated 
     group size limits and staff-to-child ratios;
       (III) child care enrollment, attendance, and revenue 
     projections based on current operating capacity and previous 
     enrollment and revenue for the period described in subclause 
     (II); and
       (IV) a demonstration of how the subgrant funds will assist 
     in promoting the long-term viability of the eligible child 
     care provider and how the eligible child care provider will 
     sustain its operations after the cessation of funding under 
     this section;

       (ii) assurances that the eligible child care provider 
     will--

       (I) report to the lead agency, before every month for which 
     the subgrant funds are to be received, data on current 
     financial characteristics, including revenue, and data on 
     current average enrollment and attendance;
       (II) not artificially suppress revenue, enrollment, or 
     attendance for the purposes of receiving subgrant funding;
       (III) provide the necessary documentation under subsection 
     (h) to the lead agency, including providing documentation of 
     expenditures of subgrant funds; and
       (IV) implement all applicable State, local, and tribal 
     health and safety requirements and, if applicable, enhanced 
     protocols for child care services and related to COVID-19 or 
     another health or safety condition; and

       (iii) a certification in good faith that the child care 
     program will remain open for not less than 1 year after 
     receiving a subgrant under this paragraph, unless such 
     program is closed due to extraordinary circumstances 
     described in subsection (f)(1)(D).
       (D) Subgrant disbursement.--In providing funds through a 
     subgrant under this paragraph--
       (i) the lead agency shall--

       (I) disburse such subgrant funds to a qualified child care 
     provider in installments made not less than once monthly;
       (II) disburse a subgrant installment for a month after the 
     qualified child care provider has provided, before that 
     month, the enrollment, attendance, and revenue data required 
     under subparagraph (C)(ii)(I) and, if applicable, current 
     operating capacity data required under subparagraph 
     (C)(i)(II); and
       (III) make subgrant installments to any qualified child 
     care provider for a period of not more than 9 months; and

       (ii) the lead agency may, notwithstanding subparagraph 
     (E)(i), disburse an initial subgrant installment to a 
     provider in a greater amount than that subparagraph provides 
     for, and adjust the succeeding installments, as applicable.
       (E) Subgrant installment amount.--The lead agency--
       (i) shall determine the amount of a subgrant installment 
     under this paragraph by basing the amount on--

       (I)(aa) at a minimum, the fixed costs associated with the 
     provision of child care services by a qualified child care 
     provider; and
       (bb) at the election of the lead agency, an additional 
     amount determined by the State, for the purposes of assisting 
     qualified child care providers with, as applicable, increased 
     operating costs and lost revenue, associated with the COVID-
     19 public health emergency; and
       (II) any other methodology that the lead agency determines 
     to be appropriate, and which is disclosed in reporting 
     submitted by the lead agency under subsection (f)(6)(B);

       (ii) shall ensure that, for any period for which subgrant 
     funds are disbursed under this paragraph, no qualified child 
     care provider receives a subgrant installment that when added 
     to current revenue for that period exceeds the revenue for 
     the corresponding period 1 year prior; and
       (iii) may factor in decreased operating capacity due to 
     updated group size limits and staff-to-child ratios, in 
     determining subgrant installment amounts.
       (F) Repayment of subgrant funds.--A qualified child care 
     provider that receives a subgrant under this paragraph shall 
     be required to repay the subgrant funds if the lead agency 
     determines that the provider fails to provide the assurances 
     described in subparagraph (C)(ii)(II), or to comply with such 
     an assurance.
       (5) Supplement not supplant.--Amounts made available to 
     carry out this section shall be used to supplement and not 
     supplant other Federal, State, tribal, and local public funds 
     expended to provide child care services, including funds 
     provided under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act 
     of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9857 et seq.) and State and tribal child 
     care programs.
       (h) Documentation and Reporting Requirements.--
       (1) Documentation.--A State, Indian tribe, or tribal 
     organization receiving a grant under subsection (c) shall 
     provide documentation of any State or tribal expenditures 
     from grant funds received under subsection (c) in accordance 
     with section 658K(b) of the Child Care Development Block 
     Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858i(b)), and to the 
     independent entity described in that section.
       (2) Reports.--
       (A) Lead agency report.--A lead agency receiving a grant 
     under subsection (c) shall, not later than 12 months after 
     receiving such grant, submit a report to the Secretary that 
     includes for the State or tribal community involved a 
     description of the program of subgrants carried out to meet 
     the objectives of this section, including--
       (i) a description of how the lead agency determined--

       (I) the criteria for awarding subgrants for qualified child 
     care providers, including the methodology the lead agency 
     used to determine and disburse funds in accordance with 
     subparagraphs (D) and (E) of subsection (g)(4); and
       (II) the types of providers that received priority for the 
     subgrants, including considerations related to--

       (aa) setting;
       (bb) average monthly revenues, enrollment, and attendance, 
     before and during the COVID-19 public health emergency and 
     after the expiration of State, local, and tribal stay-at-home 
     orders; and
       (cc) geographically based child care service needs across 
     the State or tribal community; and
       (ii) the number of eligible child care providers in 
     operation and serving children on March 1, 2020, and the 
     average number of such providers for March 2020 and each of 
     the 11 months following, disaggregated by age of children 
     served, geography, region, center-based child care setting, 
     and family child care setting;
       (iii) the number of child care slots, in the capacity of a 
     qualified child care provider given applicable group size 
     limits and staff-to-child ratios, that were open for 
     attendance of children on March 1, 2020, the average number 
     of such slots for March 2020 and each of 11 months following, 
     disaggregated by age of children served, geography, region, 
     center-based child care setting, and family child care 
     setting;
       (iv)(I) the number of qualified child care providers that 
     received a subgrant under subsection (g)(4), disaggregated by 
     age of children served, geography, region, center-based child 
     care setting, and family child care setting, and the average 
     and range of the amounts of the subgrants awarded; and
       (II) the percentage of all eligible child care providers 
     that are qualified child care providers that received such a 
     subgrant, disaggregated as described in subclause (I); and
       (v) information concerning how qualified child care 
     providers receiving subgrants under subsection (g)(4) used 
     the subgrant funding received, disaggregated by the allowable 
     uses of funds described in subsection (g)(4)(B).
       (B) Report to congress.--Not later than 90 days after 
     receiving the lead agency reports required under subparagraph 
     (A), the Secretary shall make publicly available and provide 
     to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
     House of Representatives a report summarizing the findings of 
     the lead agency reports.
       (i) Exclusion From Income.--For purposes of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986, gross income shall not include any 
     amount received by a qualified child care provider under this 
     section.
       (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     the activities under this section.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2583. Ms. ERNST submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr.

[[Page S4955]]

McConnell to the bill S. 178, to condemn gross human rights violations 
of ethnic Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to 
arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment of these communities 
inside and outside China; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end, add the following:

                        TITLE II--FRNT LINE ACT

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Financial Relief Noting 
     The Large Impact Of Our Nation's Essential Employees (FRNT 
     LINE) Act''.

     SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this title:
       (1) Covid-19 front-line employee.--The term ``COVID-19 
     front-line employee'' means an employee--
       (A) whose principal place of employment during the COVID-19 
     emergency period is on the employer's premises or at a 
     prescribed work place that is not home of the employee, and
       (B) who--
       (i) is identified as essential critical infrastructure 
     workforce pursuant to the guidance issued on March 19, 2020, 
     by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the 
     Department of Homeland Security (including any revisions to 
     such guidance made after such date),
       (ii) performs restaurant and foodservice work, including 
     carryout, drive-thru, or food delivery work, requiring 
     physical interaction with individuals or food products, or
       (iii) performs educational work, school nutrition work, and 
     other work required to operate a school facility, including 
     early childhood programs, preschool programs, elementary and 
     secondary education, and higher education.
       (2) COVID-19 emergency period.--The term ``COVID-19 
     emergency period'' means the period--
       (A) beginning on April 1, 2020, and
       (B) ending on the earlier of--
       (i) the last day of the first month in which the emergency 
     involving Federal primary responsibility determined to exist 
     by the President under section 501(b) of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5191(b)) with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 
     (COVID-19) is no longer in effect, or
       (ii) December 31, 2020.
       (3) Other terms.--Any term used in this title which is used 
     in chapter 2 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall have 
     the meaning given such term under such chapter.

     SEC. 203. EXCLUSION FROM GROSS INCOME FOR CERTAIN 
                   COMPENSATION OF FRONT-LINE EMPLOYEES FOR 
                   ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES DURING THE COVID-19 
                   NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

       (a) In General.--For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986, gross income shall not include any wages received 
     during the COVID-19 emergency period by an individual who is 
     a COVID-19 front-line employee for employment as a COVID-19 
     front-line employee.
       (b) Limitation.--The amount of wages excluded from gross 
     income under subsection (a) for any month shall not exceed 
     $8,803.50 for any month during any part of which such COVID-
     19 front-line employee earned income as an essential critical 
     infrastructure employee.
       (c) Special Rule for Child Tax Credit and Earned Income 
     Credit.--For purposes of sections 24 and 32 of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986, an taxpayer may elect to treat amounts 
     excluded from gross income by reason of subsection (a) as 
     earned income.
       (d) Reporting.--Any employer that makes a payment described 
     in subsection (a) during a calendar year shall include the 
     amount of such payment as a separately stated item on any 
     written statement required under section 6051 of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986.

     SEC. 204. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF PAYROLL TAXES.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, with respect to remuneration received by a COVID-19 
     front-line employee for pay periods ending after the 
     effective date of this Act and before the date described in 
     section 2(3)(B), the rate of tax under 3101(a) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be 0 percent (including 
     for purposes of determining the applicable percentage under 
     sections 3201(a) and 3211(a) of such Code).
       (b) Limitation.--
       (1) In general.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to any 
     COVID-19 front-line employee whose annual wages for the 
     calendar year is expected to exceed $50,000.
       (2) Guidance.--The Secretary shall prescribed regulations 
     or other guidance for purposes of determining the amount of 
     expected annual wages for nonsalaried employees, including 
     for situations in which an employee expects annual wages in 
     excess of the amount described in paragraph (1) from more 
     than 1 employer.
       (c) Employer Notification.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
     shall notify employers of the payroll tax suspension period 
     in any manner the Secretary deems appropriate.
       (d) Transfers of Funds.--
       (1) Transfers to federal old-age and survivors insurance 
     trust fund.--There are hereby appropriated to the Federal Old 
     Age and Survivors Trust Fund and the Federal Disability 
     Insurance Trust Fund established under section 201 of the 
     Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401) amounts equal to the 
     reduction in revenues to the Treasury by reason of the 
     application of section 4. Amounts appropriated by the 
     preceding sentence shall be transferred from the general fund 
     at such times and in such manner as to replicate to the 
     extent possible the transfers which would have occurred to 
     such Trust Fund had such amendments not been enacted.
       (2) Transfers to social security equivalent benefit 
     account.--There are hereby appropriated to the Social 
     Security Equivalent Benefit Account established under section 
     15A(a) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 
     231n-1(a)) amounts equal to the reduction in revenues to the 
     Treasury by reason of the application of section 4. Amounts 
     appropriated by the preceding sentence shall be transferred 
     from the general fund at such times and in such manner as to 
     replicate to the extent possible the transfers which would 
     have occurred to such account had such amendments not been 
     enacted.
       (e) Coordination With Other Federal Laws.--For purposes of 
     applying any provision of Federal law other than the 
     provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the rate of 
     tax in effect under section 3101(a) of such Code shall be 
     determined without regard to the reduction in such rate under 
     this section.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2584. Ms. ERNST (for herself and Mr. Young) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell 
to the bill S. 178, to condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic 
Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary 
detention, torture, and harassment of these communities inside and 
outside China; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

           TITLE __--DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                Administration for Children and Families

   payments to states for the child care and development block grant

       For an additional amount for ``Payments to States for the 
     Child Care and Development Block Grant'', $15,000,000,000, to 
     remain available through September 30, 2021, to prevent, 
     prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or 
     internationally, including for Federal administrative 
     expenses, which shall be used to supplement, not supplant 
     State, territory, and Tribal general revenue funds for child 
     care assistance for low-income families within the United 
     States (including territories) without regard to requirements 
     in subparagraph (D) or (E) of section 658E(c)(3) or section 
     658G of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act:  
     Provided, That funds provided under this heading in this Act 
     may be used to provide continued payments and assistance to 
     child care providers in the case of decreased enrollment or 
     closures related to coronavirus, and to assure they are able 
     to remain open or reopen as appropriate and applicable:  
     Provided further, That States, territories, and Tribes are 
     encouraged to place conditions on payments to child care 
     providers that ensure that child care providers use a portion 
     of funds received to continue to pay the salaries and wages 
     of staff:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall remind 
     States that CCDBG State plans do not need to be amended prior 
     to utilizing existing authorities in the CCDBG Act for the 
     purposes provided herein:  Provided further, That States, 
     territories, and Tribes are authorized to use funds 
     appropriated under this heading in this Act to provide child 
     care assistance to health care sector employees, emergency 
     responders, sanitation workers, and other workers deemed 
     essential during the response to coronavirus by public 
     officials, without regard to the income eligibility 
     requirements of section 658P(4) of such Act:  Provided 
     further, That funds appropriated under this heading in this 
     Act shall be available to eligible child care providers under 
     section 658P(6) of the CCDBG Act, even if such providers were 
     not receiving CCDBG assistance prior to the public health 
     emergency as a result of the coronavirus and any renewal of 
     such declaration pursuant to such section 319, for the 
     purposes of cleaning and sanitation, and other activities 
     necessary to maintain or resume the operation of programs:  
     Provided further, That payments made under this heading in 
     this Act may be obligated in this fiscal year or the 
     succeeding 2 fiscal years:  Provided further, That funds 
     appropriated under this heading in this Act may be made 
     available to restore amounts, either directly or through 
     reimbursement, for obligations incurred to prevent, prepare 
     for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or 
     internationally, prior to the date of enactment of this Act:  
     Provided further, That such amount is designated by Congress 
     as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2585. Ms. ERNST (for herself and Mrs. Capito) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. 
McConnell to the bill S. 178, to condemn gross human rights violations 
of ethnic Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to 
arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment of these communities 
inside and outside China; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:


[[Page S4956]]


  

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. CREDIT FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS.

       (a) In General.--Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of 
     chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
     inserting after section 25D the following new section:

     ``SEC. 25E. FAMILY CAREGIVERS.

       ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an eligible 
     caregiver, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax 
     imposed by this chapter for the taxable year an amount equal 
     to 30 percent of the qualified expenses paid by the taxpayer 
     during the taxable year to the extent that such expenses 
     exceed $2,000.
       ``(b) Limitation.--
       ``(1) In general.--The amount allowed as a credit under 
     subsection (a) for the taxable year shall not exceed $3,000.
       ``(2) Adjustment for inflation.--In the case of any taxable 
     year beginning after 2020, the dollar amount contained in 
     paragraph (1) shall be increased by an amount equal to the 
     product of--
       ``(A) such dollar amount, and
       ``(B) the medical care cost adjustment determined under 
     section 213(d)(10)(B)(ii) for the calendar year in which the 
     taxable year begins, determined by substituting `2019' for 
     `1996' in subclause (II) thereof.
     If any increase determined under the preceding sentence is 
     not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be rounded to the 
     next lowest multiple of $50.
       ``(c) Eligible Caregiver.--For purposes of this section, 
     the term `eligible caregiver' means an individual who, during 
     the taxable year, pays or incurs qualified expenses in 
     connection with providing care for a qualified care 
     recipient.
       ``(d) Qualified Care Recipient.--For purposes of this 
     section--
       ``(1) In general.--The term `qualified care recipient' 
     means, with respect to any taxable year, any individual who--
       ``(A) is the spouse of the eligible caregiver, or any other 
     person who bears a relationship to the eligible caregiver 
     described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (H) of section 
     152(d)(2), and
       ``(B) has been certified, before the due date for filing 
     the return of tax for the taxable year, by a licensed health 
     care practitioner (as defined in section 7702B(c)(4)) as 
     being an individual with long-term care needs described in 
     paragraph (3) for a period--
       ``(i) which is at least 180 consecutive days, and
       ``(ii) a portion of which occurs within the taxable year.
       ``(2) Period for making certification.--Notwithstanding 
     paragraph (1)(B), a certification shall not be treated as 
     valid unless it is made within the 39\1/2\-month period 
     ending on such due date (or such other period as the 
     Secretary prescribes).
       ``(3) Individuals with long-term care needs.--An individual 
     is described in this paragraph if the individual meets any of 
     the following requirements:
       ``(A) The individual is at least 6 years of age and--
       ``(i) is unable to perform (without substantial assistance 
     from another individual) at least 2 activities of daily 
     living (as defined in section 7702B(c)(2)(B)) due to a loss 
     of functional capacity, or
       ``(ii) requires substantial supervision to protect such 
     individual from threats to health and safety due to severe 
     cognitive impairment and is unable to perform, without 
     reminding or cuing assistance, at least 1 activity of daily 
     living (as so defined) or to the extent provided in 
     regulations prescribed by the Secretary (in consultation with 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services), is unable to 
     engage in age appropriate activities.
       ``(B) The individual is at least 2 but not 6 years of age 
     and is unable due to a loss of functional capacity to perform 
     (without substantial assistance from another individual) at 
     least 2 of the following activities: eating, transferring, or 
     mobility.
       ``(C) The individual is under 2 years of age and requires 
     specific durable medical equipment by reason of a severe 
     health condition or requires a skilled practitioner trained 
     to address the individual's condition to be available if the 
     individual's parents or guardians are absent.
       ``(e) Qualified Expenses.--For purposes of this section--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (4), the term 
     `qualified expenses' means expenditures for goods, services, 
     and supports that--
       ``(A) assist a qualified care recipient with accomplishing 
     activities of daily living (as defined in section 
     7702B(c)(2)(B)) and instrumental activities of daily living 
     (as defined in section 1915(k)(6)(F) of the Social Security 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 1396n(k)(6)(F))),
       ``(B) are provided solely for use by such qualified care 
     recipient, and
       ``(C) are made after March 13, 2020 and before January 1, 
     2022.
       ``(2) Adjustment for other tax benefits.--The amount of 
     qualified expenses otherwise taken into account under 
     paragraph (1) with respect to an individual shall be reduced 
     by the sum of any amounts paid for the benefit of such 
     individual for the taxable year which are--
       ``(A) taken into account under section 21 or 213, or
       ``(B) excluded from gross income under section 129, 223(f), 
     or 529A(c)(1)(B).
       ``(3) Goods, services, and supports.--For purposes of 
     paragraph (1), goods, services, and supports (as defined by 
     the Secretary) shall include--
       ``(A) human assistance, supervision, cuing and standby 
     assistance,
       ``(B) assistive technologies and devices (including remote 
     health monitoring),
       ``(C) environmental modifications (including home 
     modifications),
       ``(D) health maintenance tasks (such as medication 
     management),
       ``(E) information,
       ``(F) transportation of the qualified care recipient,
       ``(G) nonhealth items (such as incontinence supplies), and
       ``(H) coordination of and services for people who live in 
     their own home, a residential setting, or a nursing facility, 
     as well as the cost of care in these or other locations.
       ``(4) Qualified expenses for eligible caregivers.--For 
     purposes of paragraph (1), the following shall be treated as 
     qualified expenses if paid or incurred by an eligible 
     caregiver:
       ``(A) Expenditures for respite care for a qualified care 
     recipient.
       ``(B) Expenditures for counseling, support groups, or 
     training relating to caring for a qualified care recipient.
       ``(C) Lost wages for unpaid time off due to caring for a 
     qualified care recipient as verified by an employer.
       ``(D) Travel costs of the eligible caregiver related to 
     caring for a qualified care recipient.
       ``(E) Expenditures for technologies, as determined by the 
     Secretary, that assist an eligible caregiver in providing 
     care for a qualified care recipient.
       ``(5) Human assistance.--The term `human assistance' 
     includes the costs of a direct care worker.
       ``(6) Documentation.--An expense shall not be taken into 
     account under this section unless the eligible caregiver 
     substantiates such expense under such regulations or guidance 
     as the Secretary shall provide.
       ``(7) Mileage rate.--For purposes of this section, the 
     mileage rate for the use of a passenger automobile shall be 
     the standard mileage rate used to calculate the deductible 
     costs of operating an automobile for medical purposes. Such 
     rate may be used in lieu of actual automobile-related travel 
     expenses.
       ``(8) Coordination with able accounts.--Qualified expenses 
     for a taxable year shall not include contributions to an ABLE 
     account (as defined in section 529A).
       ``(f) Phase Out Based on Adjusted Gross Income.--For 
     purposes of this section--
       ``(1) In general.--The amount of the credit allowable under 
     subsection (a) shall be reduced (but not below zero) by $100 
     for each $1,000 (or fraction thereof) by which the taxpayer's 
     modified adjusted gross income exceeds the threshold amount.
       ``(2) Modified adjusted gross income.--The term `modified 
     adjusted gross income' means adjusted gross income increased 
     by any amount excluded from gross income under section 911, 
     931, or 933.
       ``(3) Threshold amount.--The term `threshold amount' 
     means--
       ``(A) $150,000 in the case of a joint return, and
       ``(B) $75,000 in any other case.
       ``(4) Indexing.--In the case of any taxable year beginning 
     in a calendar year after 2020, each dollar amount contained 
     in paragraph (3) shall be increased by an amount equal to the 
     product of--
       ``(A) such dollar amount, and
       ``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under 
     section (1)(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable 
     year begins, by substituting `calendar year 2019' for 
     `calendar year 2016' in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.
       ``(5) Rounding rule.--If any increase determined under 
     paragraph (4) is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall 
     be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50.
       ``(g) Identification of Eligible Caregiver With Care 
     Recipient (Qualified Care Recipient) Identification 
     Requirement.--No credit shall be allowed under this section 
     to a taxpayer with respect to any qualified care recipient 
     unless the taxpayer includes the name and taxpayer 
     identification number of such individual, and the 
     identification number of the licensed health care 
     practitioner certifying such individual, on the return of tax 
     for the taxable year.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart 
     A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 25D 
     the following new item:

``Sec. 25E. Family caregivers.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 
     2019.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2586. Mr. DAINES submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. PASS-THROUGH OF PORTION OF STATE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF 
                   FUND TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

       (a) Pass-Through Requirement.--Subsection (b) of section 
     601 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 801) is amended--

[[Page S4957]]

       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Subject to paragraph 
     (2)'' and inserting ``Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3)''; 
     and
       (2) by adding at the end the following
       ``(3) Pass-through requirement.--Each State shall 
     distribute 45 percent of the amount paid to the State under 
     this section for fiscal year 2020 (after the application of 
     paragraph (2)) upon receipt on a pass-through basis, and 
     without requiring any application, to each unit of local 
     government in the State that is not a large unit of local 
     government that received a direct payment under this section 
     in accordance with paragraph (2). The preceding distribution 
     requirement shall not apply to the District of Columbia.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 601 of such Act is 
     further amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by inserting ``large'' 
     before ``unit of local government'' each place it appears; 
     and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``large'' before 
     ``units''; and
       (ii) by adding at the end the following: ``For purposes of 
     this section, the term `large unit of local government' means 
     a unit of local government, as defined in subsection (g)(2), 
     with a population that exceeds 500,000.'';
       (2) in subsection (c)(5)--
       (A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``large'' before 
     ``unit''; and
       (B) by inserting ``large'' before ``unit of local 
     government'' each place it appears;
       (3) in subsection (e)--
       (A) by inserting ``direct'' before ``payment''; and
       (B) by inserting ``large'' before ``unit of local 
     government'' each place it appears; and
       (4) in subsection (g)(2)--
       (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Local'' and 
     inserting ``Unit of local''; and
       (B) by striking ``with a population that exceeds 500,000.''
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 
     601 of the Social Security Act, as added by section 5001(a) 
     of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act 
     (Public Law 116-136).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2587. Mr. WICKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Real 
     Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant 
     Assistance Needed To Survive Act of 2020'' or the 
     ``RESTAURANTS Act of 2020''.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Affiliated business.--The term ``affiliated business'' 
     means a business in which an eligible entity has an equity or 
     right to profit distributions of not less than 50 percent, or 
     in which an eligible entity has the contractual authority to 
     control the direction of the business, provided that such 
     affiliation shall be determined as of any arrangements or 
     agreements in existence as of March 13, 2020.
       (2) Covered period.--The term ``covered period'' means the 
     period beginning on February 15, 2020 and ending on December 
     31, 2020.
       (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity''--
       (A) means a restaurant, food stand, food truck, food cart, 
     caterer, saloon, inn, tavern, bar, lounge, brewpub, tasting 
     room, taproom, licensed facility or premise of a beverage 
     alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or 
     purchase products, or other similar place of business in 
     which the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose 
     of being served food or drink;
       (B) includes an entity described in subparagraph (A) that 
     is located in an airport terminal; and
       (C) does not include an entity described in subparagraph 
     (A) that--
       (i) is part of a State or local government facility; or
       (ii) as of March 13, 2020, owns or operates (together with 
     any affiliated business) more than 20 locations, regardless 
     of whether those locations do business under the same or 
     multiple names.
       (4) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Restaurant 
     Revitalization Fund established under subsection (c).
       (5) Payroll costs.--The term ``payroll costs'' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 7(a)(36)(A) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)(A)).
       (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Treasury.
       (c) Restaurant Revitalization Fund.--
       (1) In general.--There is established in the Treasury of 
     the United States a fund to be known as the Restaurant 
     Revitalization Fund.
       (2) Appropriations.--
       (A) In general.--There is appropriated to the Fund, out of 
     amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
     $120,000,000,000, to remain available until December 31, 
     2020.
       (B) Remainder to treasury.--Any amounts remaining in the 
     Fund after December 31, 2020 shall be deposited in the 
     general fund of the Treasury.
       (3) Use of funds.--The Secretary shall use amounts in the 
     Fund to make grants described in subsection (d).
       (d) Restaurant Revitalization Grants.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
     eligible entities in the order in which applications are 
     received by the Secretary.
       (2) Registration.--The Secretary shall register each grant 
     awarded under this subsection using the employer 
     identification number of the eligible entity.
       (3) Application.--
       (A) In general.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under 
     this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application 
     at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
     as the Secretary may require.
       (B) Certification.--An eligible entity applying for a grant 
     under this subsection shall make a good faith certification--
       (i) that the uncertainty of current economic conditions 
     makes necessary the grant request to support the ongoing 
     operations of the eligible entity;
       (ii) acknowledging that funds will be used to retain 
     workers and maintain payroll or for other allowable expenses 
     described in paragraph (5);
       (iii) that the eligible entity does not have an application 
     pending for a grant under subsection (a)(36) or (b)(2) of 
     section 7 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) for the 
     same purpose and duplicative of amounts applied for or 
     received under this subsection; and
       (iv) that, during the covered period, the eligible entity 
     has not received amounts under subsection (a)(36) or (b)(2) 
     of section 7 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) for 
     the same purpose and duplicative of amounts applied for or 
     received under this subsection.
       (C) Hold harmless.--An eligible entity applying for a grant 
     under this subsection shall not be ineligible for a grant if 
     the eligible entity is able to document--
       (i) an inability to rehire individuals who were employees 
     of the eligible entity on February 15, 2020; and
       (ii) an inability to hire similarly qualified employees for 
     unfilled positions on or before December 31, 2020.
       (4) Priority in awarding grants.--During the initial 14-day 
     period in which the Secretary awards grants under this 
     subsection, the Secretary shall--
       (A) prioritize awarding grants to marginalized and 
     underrepresented communities, with a focus on women, veteran, 
     and minority-owned and operated eligible entities; and
       (B) only award grants to eligible entities with annual 
     revenues of less than $1,500,000.
       (5) Grant amount.--
       (A) Aggregate maximum amount.--The aggregate amount of 
     grants made to an eligible entity and any affiliate 
     businesses of the eligible entity under this subsection shall 
     not exceed $10,000,000.
       (B) Determination of grant amount.--
       (i) In general.--The amount of a grant made to an eligible 
     entity under this subsection shall be equal to the difference 
     between--

       (I) the sum of the revenues or estimated revenues of the 
     eligible entity during each calendar quarter in 2020; and
       (II) the sum of such revenues during the same calendar 
     quarter in 2019, if such sum is greater than zero.

       (ii) Verification.--An eligible entity shall submit to the 
     Secretary such revenue verification documentation as the 
     Secretary may require to determine the amount of a grant 
     under clause (i).
       (iii) Repayment.--Any amount of a grant made under this 
     subsection to an eligible entity based on estimated revenues 
     in a calendar quarter in 2020 that is above the actual 
     revenues of the eligible entity during that calendar quarter 
     shall be converted to a loan that has--

       (I) an interest rate of 1 percent; and
       (II) a maturity date of 10 years beginning on January 1, 
     2021.

       (C) No duplication of benefits.--An eligible entity that 
     received a loan under section 7(a)(36) of the Small Business 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)) may not apply for or use grant 
     amounts under this subsection for the same expenses for which 
     the eligible entity received the loan.
       (D) Limitation.--An eligible entity may not receive more 
     than 1 grant under this subsection.
       (6) Use of funds.--
       (A) In general.--During the covered period, an eligible 
     entity that receives a grant under this subsection may use 
     the grant funds for the following expenses incurred as a 
     direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic:
       (i) Payroll costs.
       (ii) Payments of principal or interest on any mortgage 
     obligation.
       (iii) Rent payments, including rent under a lease 
     agreement.
       (iv) Utilities.
       (v) Maintenance expenses, including--

       (I) construction to accommodate outdoor seating; and
       (II) walls, floors, deck surfaces, furniture, fixtures, and 
     equipment.

       (vi) Supplies, including protective equipment and cleaning 
     materials, as required by applicable public health 
     departments.
       (vii) Food and beverage expenses that are within the scope 
     of the normal business practice of the eligible entity before 
     the covered period.

[[Page S4958]]

       (viii) Debt obligations to suppliers that were incurred 
     before the covered period.
       (ix) Operational expenses.
       (x) Any other expenses that the Secretary determines to be 
     essential to maintaining the eligible entity.
       (B) Returning funds.--If an eligible entity that receives a 
     grant under this subsection permanently ceases operations on 
     or before December 31, 2020, the eligible entity shall return 
     to the Treasury any funds that the eligible entity did not 
     use for the allowable expenses under subparagraph (A).
       (C) Conversion to loan.--Any grant amounts received by an 
     eligible entity under this subsection that are unused after 
     December 31, 2020 shall be immediately converted to a loan 
     with--
       (i) an interest rate of 1 percent; and
       (ii) a maturity date of 10 years.
       (7) Taxability.--For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986--
       (A) the amount of a grant awarded to an eligible entity 
     under this subsection shall be excluded from the gross income 
     of the eligible entity;
       (B) no deduction shall be denied or reduced, no tax 
     attribute shall be reduced, and no basis increase shall be 
     denied, by reason of the exclusion from gross income provided 
     by subparagraph (A); and
       (C) an eligible entity that receives a grant under this 
     subsection shall not be eligible for the credit described in 
     section 2301 of the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136).
       (8) Regulations.--Not later than 15 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations 
     to carry out this subsection without regard to the notice and 
     comment requirements under section 553 of title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (9) Appropriations for staffing and administrative 
     expenses.--
       (A) In general.--There is appropriated to the Secretary, 
     out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
     $200,000,000, to remain available until December 31, 2020, 
     for staffing and administrative expenses related to 
     administering grants awarded under this subsection.
       (B) Set aside.--Of amounts appropriated under subparagraph 
     (A), $60,000,000 shall be allocated for outreach to 
     traditionally marginalized and underrepresented communities, 
     with a focus on women, veteran, and minority-owned and 
     operated eligible entities, including the creation of a 
     resource center targeted toward these communities.
       (e) Emergency Designation.--
       (1) In general.--The amounts provided by this section are 
     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) Designation in senate.--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 2588. Mr. WICKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 178, to condemn gross human rights violations of 
ethnic Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary 
detention, torture, and harassment of these communities inside and 
outside China; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Real 
     Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant 
     Assistance Needed To Survive Act of 2020'' or the 
     ``RESTAURANTS Act of 2020''.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Affiliated business.--The term ``affiliated business'' 
     means a business in which an eligible entity has an equity or 
     right to profit distributions of not less than 50 percent, or 
     in which an eligible entity has the contractual authority to 
     control the direction of the business, provided that such 
     affiliation shall be determined as of any arrangements or 
     agreements in existence as of March 13, 2020.
       (2) Covered period.--The term ``covered period'' means the 
     period beginning on February 15, 2020 and ending on December 
     31, 2020.
       (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity''--
       (A) means a restaurant, food stand, food truck, food cart, 
     caterer, saloon, inn, tavern, bar, lounge, brewpub, tasting 
     room, taproom, licensed facility or premise of a beverage 
     alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or 
     purchase products, or other similar place of business in 
     which the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose 
     of being served food or drink;
       (B) includes an entity described in subparagraph (A) that 
     is located in an airport terminal; and
       (C) does not include an entity described in subparagraph 
     (A) that--
       (i) is part of a State or local government facility; or
       (ii) as of March 13, 2020, owns or operates (together with 
     any affiliated business) more than 20 locations, regardless 
     of whether those locations do business under the same or 
     multiple names.
       (4) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Restaurant 
     Revitalization Fund established under subsection (c).
       (5) Payroll costs.--The term ``payroll costs'' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 7(a)(36)(A) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)(A)).
       (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Treasury.
       (c) Restaurant Revitalization Fund.--
       (1) In general.--There is established in the Treasury of 
     the United States a fund to be known as the Restaurant 
     Revitalization Fund.
       (2) Appropriations.--
       (A) In general.--There is appropriated to the Fund, out of 
     amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
     $120,000,000,000, to remain available until December 31, 
     2020.
       (B) Remainder to treasury.--Any amounts remaining in the 
     Fund after December 31, 2020 shall be deposited in the 
     general fund of the Treasury.
       (3) Use of funds.--The Secretary shall use amounts in the 
     Fund to make grants described in subsection (d).
       (d) Restaurant Revitalization Grants.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
     eligible entities in the order in which applications are 
     received by the Secretary.
       (2) Registration.--The Secretary shall register each grant 
     awarded under this subsection using the employer 
     identification number of the eligible entity.
       (3) Application.--
       (A) In general.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under 
     this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application 
     at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
     as the Secretary may require.
       (B) Certification.--An eligible entity applying for a grant 
     under this subsection shall make a good faith certification--
       (i) that the uncertainty of current economic conditions 
     makes necessary the grant request to support the ongoing 
     operations of the eligible entity;
       (ii) acknowledging that funds will be used to retain 
     workers and maintain payroll or for other allowable expenses 
     described in paragraph (5);
       (iii) that the eligible entity does not have an application 
     pending for a grant under subsection (a)(36) or (b)(2) of 
     section 7 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) for the 
     same purpose and duplicative of amounts applied for or 
     received under this subsection; and
       (iv) that, during the covered period, the eligible entity 
     has not received amounts under subsection (a)(36) or (b)(2) 
     of section 7 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) for 
     the same purpose and duplicative of amounts applied for or 
     received under this subsection.
       (C) Hold harmless.--An eligible entity applying for a grant 
     under this subsection shall not be ineligible for a grant if 
     the eligible entity is able to document--
       (i) an inability to rehire individuals who were employees 
     of the eligible entity on February 15, 2020; and
       (ii) an inability to hire similarly qualified employees for 
     unfilled positions on or before December 31, 2020.
       (4) Priority in awarding grants.--During the initial 14-day 
     period in which the Secretary awards grants under this 
     subsection, the Secretary shall--
       (A) prioritize awarding grants to marginalized and 
     underrepresented communities, with a focus on women, veteran, 
     and minority-owned and operated eligible entities; and
       (B) only award grants to eligible entities with annual 
     revenues of less than $1,500,000.
       (5) Grant amount.--
       (A) Aggregate maximum amount.--The aggregate amount of 
     grants made to an eligible entity and any affiliate 
     businesses of the eligible entity under this subsection shall 
     not exceed $10,000,000.
       (B) Determination of grant amount.--
       (i) In general.--The amount of a grant made to an eligible 
     entity under this subsection shall be equal to the difference 
     between--

       (I) the sum of the revenues or estimated revenues of the 
     eligible entity during each calendar quarter in 2020; and
       (II) the sum of such revenues during the same calendar 
     quarter in 2019, if such sum is greater than zero.

       (ii) Verification.--An eligible entity shall submit to the 
     Secretary such revenue verification documentation as the 
     Secretary may require to determine the amount of a grant 
     under clause (i).
       (iii) Repayment.--Any amount of a grant made under this 
     subsection to an eligible entity based on estimated revenues 
     in a calendar quarter in 2020 that is above the actual 
     revenues of the eligible entity during that calendar quarter 
     shall be converted to a loan that has--

       (I) an interest rate of 1 percent; and
       (II) a maturity date of 10 years beginning on January 1, 
     2021.

       (C) No duplication of benefits.--An eligible entity that 
     received a loan under section 7(a)(36) of the Small Business 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)) may not apply for or use grant 
     amounts under this subsection for the same expenses for which 
     the eligible entity received the loan.
       (D) Limitation.--An eligible entity may not receive more 
     than 1 grant under this subsection.
       (6) Use of funds.--
       (A) In general.--During the covered period, an eligible 
     entity that receives a grant under this subsection may use 
     the grant funds for the following expenses incurred as a 
     direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic:
       (i) Payroll costs.

[[Page S4959]]

       (ii) Payments of principal or interest on any mortgage 
     obligation.
       (iii) Rent payments, including rent under a lease 
     agreement.
       (iv) Utilities.
       (v) Maintenance expenses, including--

       (I) construction to accommodate outdoor seating; and
       (II) walls, floors, deck surfaces, furniture, fixtures, and 
     equipment.

       (vi) Supplies, including protective equipment and cleaning 
     materials, as required by applicable public health 
     departments.
       (vii) Food and beverage expenses that are within the scope 
     of the normal business practice of the eligible entity before 
     the covered period.
       (viii) Debt obligations to suppliers that were incurred 
     before the covered period.
       (ix) Operational expenses.
       (x) Any other expenses that the Secretary determines to be 
     essential to maintaining the eligible entity.
       (B) Returning funds.--If an eligible entity that receives a 
     grant under this subsection permanently ceases operations on 
     or before December 31, 2020, the eligible entity shall return 
     to the Treasury any funds that the eligible entity did not 
     use for the allowable expenses under subparagraph (A).
       (C) Conversion to loan.--Any grant amounts received by an 
     eligible entity under this subsection that are unused after 
     December 31, 2020 shall be immediately converted to a loan 
     with--
       (i) an interest rate of 1 percent; and
       (ii) a maturity date of 10 years.
       (7) Taxability.--For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986--
       (A) the amount of a grant awarded to an eligible entity 
     under this subsection shall be excluded from the gross income 
     of the eligible entity;
       (B) no deduction shall be denied or reduced, no tax 
     attribute shall be reduced, and no basis increase shall be 
     denied, by reason of the exclusion from gross income provided 
     by subparagraph (A); and
       (C) an eligible entity that receives a grant under this 
     subsection shall not be eligible for the credit described in 
     section 2301 of the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136).
       (8) Regulations.--Not later than 15 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations 
     to carry out this subsection without regard to the notice and 
     comment requirements under section 553 of title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (9) Appropriations for staffing and administrative 
     expenses.--
       (A) In general.--There is appropriated to the Secretary, 
     out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
     $200,000,000, to remain available until December 31, 2020, 
     for staffing and administrative expenses related to 
     administering grants awarded under this subsection.
       (B) Set aside.--Of amounts appropriated under subparagraph 
     (A), $60,000,000 shall be allocated for outreach to 
     traditionally marginalized and underrepresented communities, 
     with a focus on women, veteran, and minority-owned and 
     operated eligible entities, including the creation of a 
     resource center targeted toward these communities.
       (e) Emergency Designation.--
       (1) In general.--The amounts provided by this section are 
     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) Designation in senate.--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 2589. Ms. ERNST submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to 
condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in 
Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and 
harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF 
                   JUSTICE PROGRAMS.

       (a) Appropriations.--There is appropriated, out of any 
     money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2021, an additional amount for 
     ``Department of Justice, State and Local Law Enforcement 
     Activities, Office on Violence Against Women, Violence 
     Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs'', 
     $385,000,000, of which--
       (1) $225,000,000 is for grants to combat violence against 
     women, as authorized by part T of the Omnibus Crime Control 
     and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10441 et seq.), 
     provided that such amounts are used to allow for flexible 
     funding for victim service providers;
       (2) $40,000,000 is for transitional housing assistance 
     grants for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, 
     stalking, or sexual assault as authorized by section 40299 of 
     the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 
     (Public Law 103-322);
       (3) $100,000,000 is for sexual assault victims assistance 
     as authorized by section 41601 of the Violent Crime Control 
     and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-322);
       (4) $10,000,000 is for grants for outreach and services to 
     underserved populations as authorized by section 120 of the 
     Violence Against Women and Department of Justice 
     Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-162); and
       (5) $10,000,000 is for rural domestic violence and child 
     abuse enforcement assistance grants, as authorized by section 
     40295 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 
     1994 (Public Law 103-322).
       (b) Emergency Designation.--
       (1) In general.--The amounts provided under this section 
     are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 204(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 
     U.S.C. 933(g)).
       (2) Designation in senate.--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 2590. Mr. SCOTT of Florida submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 
178, to condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims 
in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, 
and harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER PAYROLL TAX CUT.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law--
       (1) with respect to remuneration received by a qualified 
     employee during the payroll tax holiday period, the rate of 
     tax under 3101(a) of such Code shall be 0 percent (including 
     for purposes of determining the applicable percentage under 
     sections 3201(a) and 3211(a)(1) of such Code),
       (2) with respect to remuneration paid to a qualified 
     employee during the payroll tax holiday period, the rate of 
     tax under section 3111(a) of such Code shall be 0 percent 
     (including for purposes of determining the applicable 
     percentage under section 3221(a) of such Code), and
       (3) with respect to any portion of a taxable year which is 
     in the payroll tax holiday period, the rate of tax under 
     section 1401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be 
     0 percent.
       (b) Qualified Employee.-- The term ``qualified employee'' 
     means, with respect to remuneration received from or paid by 
     an employer during the payroll tax holiday period, an 
     employee who was employed by such employer on or before 
     September 1, 2020.
       (c) Payroll Tax Holiday Period.--The term ``payroll tax 
     holiday period'' means the period beginning on the date of 
     the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2020.
       (d) Coordination With Delay of Payment of Employer Payroll 
     Taxes.--Section 2302(d)(2) of the CARES Act (Public Law 116-
     136) is amended by striking ``January 1, 2021'' and inserting 
     ``the date of the enactment of the Coronavirus Relief Fair 
     Unemployment Compensation Act of 2020''.
       (e) Employer Notification.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
     shall notify employers of the payroll tax holiday period in 
     any manner the Secretary deems appropriate.
       (f) Transfers of Funds, etc.--
       (1) Transfers to federal old-age and survivors insurance 
     trust fund.--There are hereby appropriated to the Federal 
     Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal 
     Disability Insurance Trust Fund established under section 201 
     of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401) and the Social 
     Security Equivalent Benefit Account established under section 
     15A(a) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 
     231n-1(a)) amounts equal to the reduction in revenues to the 
     Treasury by reason of this section (without regard to this 
     paragraph). Amounts appropriated by the preceding sentence 
     shall be transferred from the general fund at such times and 
     in such manner as to replicate to the extent possible the 
     transfers which would have occurred to such Trust Fund or 
     Account had this section not been enacted.
       (2) Coordination with other federal laws.--For purposes of 
     applying any provision of Federal law other than the 
     provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the rate of 
     tax in effect under section 3101(a) of such Code shall be 
     determined without regard to the reduction in such rate under 
     this section.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2591. Mr. SCOTT of Florida submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 
178, to condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims 
in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, 
and harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF BONUS DEPRECIATION.

       (a) In General.--Section 168(k) of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986 is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)--

[[Page S4960]]

       (i) in clause (i)(I), by striking ``20 years'' and 
     inserting ``40 years'', and
       (ii) in clause (iii), by striking ``January 1, 2027'' and 
     inserting ``January 1, 2029'',
       (B) in subparagraph (B)--
       (i) in clause (i)--

       (I) in subclause (II), by striking ``January 1, 2028'' and 
     inserting ``January 1, 2030'', and
       (II) in subclause (III), by striking ``January 1, 2027'' 
     and inserting ``January 1, 2029'', and

       (ii) in clause (ii)--

       (I) in the heading, by striking ``2027'' and inserting 
     ``2029'', and
       (II) by striking ``January 1, 2027'' and inserting 
     ``January 1, 2029'', and

       (C) in subparagraph (E)(i), by striking ``January 1, 2027'' 
     and inserting ``January 1, 2029'',
       (2) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ``January 1, 2027'' 
     and inserting ``January 1, 2029'', and
       (3) in paragraph (6)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)--
       (i) in clause (i), by striking ``January 1, 2023'' and 
     inserting ``January 1, 2025'',
       (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``after December 31, 2022, 
     and before January 1, 2024'' and inserting ``after December 
     31, 2024, and before January 1, 2026'',
       (iii) in clause (iii), by striking ``after December 31, 
     2023, and before January 1, 2025'' and inserting ``after 
     December 31, 2025, and before January 1, 2027'',
       (iv) in clause (iv), by striking ``after December 31, 2024, 
     and before January 1, 2026'' and inserting ``after December 
     31, 2026, and before January 1, 2028'', and
       (v) in clause (v), by striking ``after December 31, 2025, 
     and before January 1, 2027'' and inserting ``after December 
     31, 2027, and before January 1, 2029'',
       (B) in subparagraph (B)--
       (i) in clause (i), by striking ``January 1, 2024'' and 
     inserting ``January 1, 2026'',
       (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``after December 31, 2023, 
     and before January 1, 2025'' and inserting ``after December 
     31, 2025, and before January 1, 2027'',
       (iii) in clause (iii), by striking ``after December 31, 
     2024, and before January 1, 2026'' and inserting ``after 
     December 31, 2026, and before January 1, 2028'',
       (iv) in clause (iv), by striking ``after December 31, 2025, 
     and before January 1, 2027'' and inserting ``after December 
     31, 2027, and before January 1, 2029'', and
       (v) in clause (v), by striking ``after December 31, 2026, 
     and before January 1, 2028'' and inserting ``after December 
     31, 2028, and before January 1, 2030'', and
       (C) in subparagraph (C)--
       (i) in clause (i), by striking ``January 1, 2023'' and 
     inserting ``January 1, 2025'',
       (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``after December 31, 2022, 
     and before January 1, 2024'' and inserting ``after December 
     31, 2024, and before January 1, 2026'',
       (iii) in clause (iii), by striking ``after December 31, 
     2023, and before January 1, 2025'' and inserting ``after 
     December 31, 2025, and before January 1, 2027'',
       (iv) in clause (iv), by striking ``after December 31, 2024, 
     and before January 1, 2026'' and inserting ``after December 
     31, 2026, and before January 1, 2028'', and
       (v) in clause (v), by striking ``after December 31, 2025, 
     and before January 1, 2027'' and inserting ``after December 
     31, 2027, and before January 1, 2029''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to property placed in service after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2592. Mr. SCOTT of Florida submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 
178, to condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims 
in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, 
and harassment of these communities inside and outside China; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. EXPANSION OF EXCLUSION FOR GAIN FROM CERTAIN SMALL 
                   BUSINESS STOCK.

       (a) Application to Corporations.--Section 1202(a) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``In the 
     case of a taxpayer other than corporation, gross income'' and 
     inserting ``Gross income''.
       (b) Increase in Exclusion Limitation.--
       (1) In general.--Section 1202(b)(1)(A) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``$10,000,000'' 
     and inserting ``$20,000,000''.
       (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 1202(b)(3)(A) of such 
     Code is amended by striking ``substituting `$5,000,000' for 
     `$10,000,000' '' and inserting ``substituting `$10,000,000' 
     for `$20,000,000' ''.
       (c) Increase in Qualified Business Asset Limitations.--
     Section 1202(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
     amended by striking ``$50,000,000'' each place it appears in 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting ``$100,000,000''.
       (d) Expansion of Permissible Trades or Businesses.--Section 
     1202(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) as 
     clauses (i) through (v), respectively and by moving such 
     clauses 2 ems to the right, and
       (2) by striking ``means any trade or business other than--
     '' and inserting ``means--
       ``(A) in the case of stock acquired after the date of the 
     enactment of the Coronavirus Relief Fair Unemployment 
     Compensation Act of 2020, any trade or business, and
       ``(B) in the case of stock acquired on or before such date, 
     any trade or business other than--''.
       (e) Effective Date.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     amendments made by this section shall apply to stock acquired 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Increase in exclusion limitation.--The amendments made 
     by subsection (b) shall apply to dispositions of stock after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2593. Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Daines, and 
Mr. Moran) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment 
SA 2499 proposed by Mr. McConnell to the bill S. 178, to condemn gross 
human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and 
calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment of 
these communities inside and outside China; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. _____. POSTAL SERVICE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) By law, the Postal Service operates as ``a basic and 
     fundamental service provided to the people by the Government 
     of the United States'' and must serve rural, suburban, and 
     urban areas throughout the United States.
       (2) The Postal Service is a lifeline for businesses and 
     consumers across the United States, especially those in 
     remote and rural areas of the country, delivering business 
     correspondence, educational, cultural and scientific 
     information, critical prescriptions and medications, 
     household items, and commercial goods with affordable, 
     reliable service not fewer than 6 days per week.
       (3) The Postal Service helps small businesses stay 
     connected with their customers no matter where they are 
     located or where their customers live.
       (4) Since 1970, the Postal Service has been charged with 
     operating as a self-sustaining entity and its operations are 
     funded from postage paid for mail and shipping and not 
     primarily by taxpayer funds.
       (5) The Government Accountability Office reports that the 
     Postal Service has lost approximately $78,000,000,000 from 
     fiscal year 2007 through 2019 due primarily to declining mail 
     volumes and rising costs.
       (6) Package delivery volumes have more than doubled since 
     2010, but the Postal Service faces competition in this area.
       (7) The Postal Service is not on a sustainable path and 
     needs reform to be viable over the long term.
       (8) Reforms must be focused on the long term solvency of 
     the Postal Service while ensuring the greatest benefit to the 
     public and 630,000 employees of the Postal Service.
       (9) By law, the authority for operation and strategic 
     direction of the Postal Service, an independent establishment 
     of the executive branch, is delegated to the Board of 
     Governors of the Postal Service, including the Postmaster 
     General.
       (10) On May 6, 2020, the Board of Governors of the Postal 
     Service selected Louis DeJoy as the 75th Postmaster General 
     of the United States.
       (11) The new Postmaster General should be given the 
     opportunity to review the operations and finances of the 
     Postal Service and, in coordination with the rest of the 
     Board of Governors of the Postal Service, propose a plan to 
     ensure its long term viability.
       (12) At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has 
     significantly contributed to the decline in market dominant 
     mail volumes and revenues while increasing costs, putting 
     additional stress on the financial situation of the Postal 
     Service.
       (13) Now more than ever, affordable mail and package 
     delivery provided by the Postal Service is a lifeline for 
     people in the United States, especially for seniors and 
     others living in remote and rural areas.
       (14) The critical services the Postal Service provides will 
     play a fundamental part of the economic recovery of the 
     United States.
       (15) Congress should provide immediate emergency 
     appropriations to cover financial losses to the Postal 
     Service caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to keep the 
     Postal Service operating without interruptions in service and 
     to give the new Postmaster General and the Board of Governors 
     of the Postal Service time to formulate and propose to 
     Congress a plan to ensure the long term viability of the 
     Postal Service.
       (16) In addition, although Congress recognized the critical 
     role the Postal Service plays by providing $10,000,000,000 in 
     borrowing authority in the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136; 134 
     Stat. 281) to address operating losses caused by the COVID-19 
     pandemic, clarification is required with respect to the terms 
     and conditions imposed by the Secretary of the Treasury on 
     any such borrowing.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) COVID-19.--The term ``COVID-19'' means the coronavirus 
     disease 2019 (COVID-19).

[[Page S4961]]

       (2) Postal service.--The term ``Postal Service'' means the 
     United States Postal Service.
       (c) Emergency Appropriations for the Postal Service to 
     Cover COVID-19 Induced Losses.--
       (1) In general.--There is established in the Treasury of 
     the United States a fund to be known as the Postal Service 
     COVID-19 Emergency Fund.
       (2) Appropriations.--There is appropriated, out of any 
     money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the 
     Postal Service COVID-19 Emergency Fund, $25,000,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2022, pursuant to this 
     subsection:  Provided, That such amount is designated by 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)(i)).
       (3) Certification.--The Postal Service shall certify in its 
     quarterly and audited annual reports to the Postal Regulatory 
     Commission under section 3654 of title 39, United States 
     Code, and in conformity with the requirements of section 13 
     or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 
     78m, 78o(d)), any expenditures necessary to cover lost 
     revenue or operational expenses resulting from the COVID-19 
     pandemic. The Postal Service shall provide copies of these 
     certified filings to the Senate Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs, and the House Committee on 
     Oversight and Reform within 15 days of any filing with the 
     Postal Regulatory Commission.
       (4) Transfer.--Within 15 days of any filing with the Postal 
     Regulatory Commission, as referenced in paragraph (3), the 
     Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the Postal 
     Service COVID-19 Emergency Fund to the Postal Service Fund 
     such amounts, up to $25,000,000,000 certified as expenditures 
     necessary to cover lost revenue or operational expenses 
     resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, pursuant to paragraph 
     (3). This transfer authority is in addition to any other 
     transfer authority provided in this section. Any amounts 
     transferred to the Postal Service Fund under this subsection 
     may be used for such purposes as the Postal Service considers 
     appropriate, pursuant to this subsection.
       (5) Additional requirement.--The Postal Service, during the 
     COVID-19 pandemic, shall prioritize the purchase of, and make 
     available to all employees and facilities of the Postal 
     Service, personal protective equipment, including gloves, 
     masks, and sanitizers, and shall conduct additional cleaning 
     and sanitizing of Postal Service facilities and delivery 
     vehicles.
       (d) Clarification of Postal Service Borrowing Authority.--
     Section 6001(b)(2) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and 
     Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) is amended to read 
     as follows:
       ``(2) the Secretary of the Treasury shall lend up to the 
     amount described in paragraph (1) at the request of the 
     Postal Service subject to the terms and conditions of the 
     note purchase agreement between the Postal Service and the 
     Federal Financing Bank in effect on September 29, 2018.''.
       (e) Postal Service Reform Plan.--
       (1) In general.--The Postmaster General shall, in 
     coordination with the rest of the Board of Governors of the 
     Postal Service, develop a plan to ensure the long-term 
     solvency of the Postal Service.
       (2) Submission to congress.--No later than 270 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Postal Service shall 
     submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
     of the House of Representatives, and the Postal Regulatory 
     Commission the plan required under this subsection, including 
     recommendations for congressional action.
       (3) Congressional update.--Prior to submission of the plan 
     required under paragraph (2) and not later than 180 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Postal Service 
     shall provide a briefing on the status of the plan to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the 
     House of Representatives.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2594. Mr. MORAN (for himself and Mr. Tester) proposed an amendment 
to the bill S. 785, to improve mental health care provided by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; as follows:

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Commander 
     John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act 
     of 2019''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

  TITLE I--IMPROVEMENT OF TRANSITION OF INDIVIDUALS TO SERVICES FROM 
                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Sec. 101. Strategic plan on expansion of health care coverage for 
              veterans transitioning from service in the Armed Forces.
Sec. 102. Review of records of former members of the Armed Forces who 
              die by suicide within one year of separation from the 
              Armed Forces.
Sec. 103. Report on REACH VET program of Department of Veterans 
              Affairs.
Sec. 104. Report on care for former members of the Armed Forces with 
              other than honorable discharge.

                      TITLE II--SUICIDE PREVENTION

Sec. 201. Financial assistance to certain entities to provide or 
              coordinate the provision of suicide prevention services 
              for eligible individuals and their families.
Sec. 202. Analysis on feasibility and advisability of the Department of 
              Veterans Affairs providing certain complementary and 
              integrative health services.
Sec. 203. Pilot program to provide veterans access to complementary and 
              integrative health programs through animal therapy, 
              agritherapy, sports and recreation therapy, art therapy, 
              and posttraumatic growth programs.
Sec. 204. Department of Veterans Affairs study of all-cause mortality 
              of veterans, including by suicide, and review of staffing 
              levels of mental health professionals.
Sec. 205. Comptroller General report on management by Department of 
              Veterans Affairs of veterans at high risk for suicide.

     TITLE III--PROGRAMS, STUDIES, AND GUIDELINES ON MENTAL HEALTH

Sec. 301. Study on connection between living at high altitude and 
              suicide risk factors among veterans.
Sec. 302. Establishment by Department of Veterans Affairs and 
              Department of Defense of a clinical provider treatment 
              toolkit and accompanying training materials for 
              comorbidities.
Sec. 303. Update of clinical practice guidelines for assessment and 
              management of patients at risk for suicide.
Sec. 304. Establishment by Department of Veterans Affairs and 
              Department of Defense of clinical practice guidelines for 
              the treatment of serious mental illness.
Sec. 305. Precision medicine initiative of Department of Veterans 
              Affairs to identify and validate brain and mental health 
              biomarkers.
Sec. 306. Statistical analyses and data evaluation by Department of 
              Veterans Affairs.

     TITLE IV--OVERSIGHT OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND RELATED SERVICES

Sec. 401. Study on effectiveness of suicide prevention and mental 
              health outreach programs of Department of Veterans 
              Affairs.
Sec. 402. Oversight of mental health and suicide prevention media 
              outreach conducted by Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 403. Comptroller General management review of mental health and 
              suicide prevention services of Department of Veterans 
              Affairs.
Sec. 404. Comptroller General report on efforts of Department of 
              Veterans Affairs to integrate mental health care into 
              primary care clinics.
Sec. 405. Joint mental health programs by Department of Veterans 
              Affairs and Department of Defense.

        TITLE V--IMPROVEMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH MEDICAL WORKFORCE

Sec. 501. Staffing improvement plan for mental health providers of 
              Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 502. Establishment of Department of Veterans Affairs Readjustment 
              Counseling Service Scholarship Program.
Sec. 503. Comptroller General report on Readjustment Counseling Service 
              of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 504. Expansion of reporting requirements on Readjustment 
              Counseling Service of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 505. Briefing on alternative work schedules for employees of 
              Veterans Health Administration.
Sec. 506. Suicide prevention coordinators.
Sec. 507. Report on efforts by Department of Veterans Affairs to 
              implement safety planning in emergency departments.

     TITLE VI--IMPROVEMENT OF CARE AND SERVICES FOR WOMEN VETERANS

Sec. 601. Expansion of capabilities of Women Veterans Call Center to 
              include text messaging.
Sec. 602. Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs internet 
              website to provide information on services available to 
              women veterans.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 701. Expanded telehealth from Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 702. Partnerships with non-Federal Government entities to provide 
              hyperbaric oxygen therapy to veterans and studies on the 
              use of such therapy for treatment of post-traumatic 
              stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

[[Page S4962]]

Sec. 703. Prescription of technical qualifications for licensed hearing 
              aid specialists and requirement for appointment of such 
              specialists.
Sec. 704. Use by Department of Veterans Affairs of commercial 
              institutional review boards in sponsored research trials.
Sec. 705. Creation of Office of Research Reviews within the Office of 
              Information and Technology of the Department of Veterans 
              Affairs.

  TITLE I--IMPROVEMENT OF TRANSITION OF INDIVIDUALS TO SERVICES FROM 
                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

     SEC. 101. STRATEGIC PLAN ON EXPANSION OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE 
                   FOR VETERANS TRANSITIONING FROM SERVICE IN THE 
                   ARMED FORCES.

       (a) Strategic Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
     in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit 
     to the appropriate committees of Congress and publish on a 
     website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a strategic 
     plan for the provision by the Department of health care to 
     any veteran during the one-year period following the 
     discharge or release of the veteran from active military, 
     naval, or air service.
       (2) Elements.--The plan submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) An identification of general goals and objectives for 
     the provision of health care to veterans described in such 
     paragraph.
       (B) A description of how such goals and objectives are to 
     be achieved, including--
       (i) a description of the use of existing personnel, 
     information, technology, facilities, public and private 
     partnerships, and other resources of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs;
       (ii) a description of the anticipated need for additional 
     resources for the Department; and
       (iii) an assessment of cost.
       (C) An analysis of the anticipated health care needs, 
     including mental health care, for such veterans, 
     disaggregated by geographic area.
       (D) An analysis of whether such veterans are eligible for 
     enrollment in the system of annual patient enrollment of the 
     Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States 
     Code.
       (E) A description of activities designed to promote the 
     availability of health care from the Department for such 
     veterans, including outreach to members of the Armed Forces 
     though the Transition Assistance Program under sections 1142 
     and 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
       (F) A description of legislative or administrative action 
     required to carry out the plan.
       (G) A description of how the plan would further the ongoing 
     initiatives under Executive Order 13822 (83 Fed. Reg. 1513; 
     relating to supporting our veterans during their transition 
     from uniformed service to civilian life) to provide seamless 
     access to high-quality mental health care and suicide 
     prevention resources to veterans as they transition, with an 
     emphasis on the one-year period following separation.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Active military, naval, or air service.--The term 
     ``active military, naval, or air service'' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 101(24) of title 38, United States 
     Code.
       (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--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.

     SEC. 102. REVIEW OF RECORDS OF FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
                   FORCES WHO DIE BY SUICIDE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF 
                   SEPARATION FROM THE ARMED FORCES.

       (a) Review.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs shall jointly review the records of each 
     former member of the Armed Forces who died by suicide, as 
     determined by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, within one year following the discharge or 
     release of the former member from active military, naval, or 
     air service during the five-year period preceding the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Records to be reviewed.--In completing the review 
     required under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense and 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall review the following 
     records maintained by the Department of Defense:
       (A) Health treatment records.
       (B) Fitness, medical, and dental records.
       (C) Ancillary training records.
       (D) Safety forms and additional duties sections of the 
     personnel information files.
       (b) Elements.--The review required by subsection (a) with 
     respect to a former member of the Armed Forces shall include 
     consideration of the following:
       (1) Whether the Department of Defense had identified the 
     former member as being at elevated risk during the 365-day 
     period before separation of the member from the Armed Forces.
       (2) In the case that the member was identified as being at 
     elevated risk as described in paragraph (1), whether that 
     identification had been communicated to the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs via the Solid Start initiative of the 
     Department pursuant to Executive Order 13822 (83 Fed. Reg. 
     1513; relating to supporting our veterans during their 
     transition from uniformed service to civilian life), or any 
     other means.
       (3) The presence of evidence-based and empirically-
     supported contextual and individual risk factors specified in 
     subsection (c) with respect to the former member and how 
     those risk factors correlated to the circumstances of the 
     death of the former member.
       (4) Demographic variables, including the following:
       (A) Sex.
       (B) Age.
       (C) Rank at separation from the Armed Forces.
       (D) Career field after separation from the Armed Forces.
       (E) State and county of residence one month prior to death.
       (F) Branch of service in the Armed Forces.
       (G) Marital status.
       (H) Reason for separation from the Armed Forces.
       (5) Support or medical services furnished to the former 
     member through the Department of Defense, specified by the 
     type of service or care provided.
       (6) Support or medical services furnished to the former 
     member through the Department of Veterans Affairs, specified 
     by the type of service or care provided.
       (c) Evidence-based and Empirically-supported Contextual and 
     Individual Risk Factors.--Evidence-based and empirically-
     supported contextual and individual risk factors specified in 
     this subsection include the following:
       (1) Exposure to violence.
       (2) Exposure to suicide.
       (3) Housing instability.
       (4) Financial instability.
       (5) Vocational problems or insecurity.
       (6) Legal problems.
       (7) Highly acute or significantly chronic relational 
     problems.
       (8) Limited access to health care.
       (d) Report.--Not later than three years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress an aggregated report on 
     the results of the review conducted under subsection (a) with 
     respect to the year-one cohort of former members of the Armed 
     Forces covered by the review.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Active military, naval, or air service.--The term 
     ``active military, naval, or air service'' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 101(24) of title 38, United States 
     Code.
       (2) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.

     SEC. 103. REPORT ON REACH VET PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (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 the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the REACH VET program.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) An assessment of the impact of the REACH VET program on 
     rates of suicide among veterans.
       (2) An assessment of how limits within the REACH VET 
     program, such as caps on the number of veterans who may be 
     flagged as high risk, are adjusted for differing rates of 
     suicide across the country.
       (3) A detailed explanation, with evidence, for why the 
     conditions included in the model used by the REACH VET 
     program were chosen, including an explanation as to why 
     certain conditions, such as bipolar disorder II, were not 
     included even though they show a similar rate of risk for 
     suicide as other conditions that were included.
       (4) An assessment of the feasibility of incorporating 
     certain economic data held by the Veterans Benefits 
     Administration into the model used by the REACH VET program, 
     including financial data and employment status, which 
     research indicates may have an impact on risk for suicide.
       (c) REACH VET Program Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``REACH VET program'' means the Recovery Engagement and 
     Coordination for Health--Veterans Enhanced Treatment program 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

     SEC. 104. REPORT ON CARE FOR FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
                   FORCES WITH OTHER THAN HONORABLE DISCHARGE.

       Section 1720I(f) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``Not less frequently than 
     once'' and inserting ``Not later than February 15''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (F); 
     and
       (B) by inserting after subsection (B) the following new 
     subparagraphs:

[[Page S4963]]

       ``(C) The types of mental or behavioral health care needs 
     treated under this section.
       ``(D) The demographics of individuals being treated under 
     this section, including--
       ``(i) age;
       ``(ii) era of service in the Armed Forces;
       ``(iii) branch of service in the Armed Forces; and
       ``(iv) geographic location.
       ``(E) The average number of visits for an individual for 
     mental or behavioral health care under this section.''.

                      TITLE II--SUICIDE PREVENTION

     SEC. 201. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN ENTITIES TO PROVIDE 
                   OR COORDINATE THE PROVISION OF SUICIDE 
                   PREVENTION SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS 
                   AND THEIR FAMILIES.

       (a) Purpose; Designation.--
       (1) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to reduce 
     veteran suicide through a community-based grant program to 
     award grants to eligible entities to provide or coordinate 
     suicide prevention services to eligible individuals and their 
     families.
       (2) Designation.--The grant program under this section 
     shall be known as the ``Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox 
     Suicide Prevention Grant Program''.
       (b) Financial Assistance and Coordination.--The Secretary 
     shall provide financial assistance to eligible entities 
     approved under this section through the award of grants to 
     such entities to provide or coordinate the provision of 
     services to eligible individuals and their families to reduce 
     the risk of suicide. The Secretary shall carry out this 
     section in coordination with the President's Roadmap to 
     Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide Task 
     Force and in consultation with the Office of Mental Health 
     and Suicide Prevention of the Department, to the extent 
     practicable.
       (c) Award of Grants.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award a grant to each 
     eligible entity for which the Secretary has approved an 
     application under subsection (f) to provide or coordinate the 
     provision of suicide prevention services under this section.
       (2) Grant amounts, intervals of payment, and matching 
     funds.--In accordance with the services being provided under 
     a grant under this section and the duration of those 
     services, the Secretary shall establish--
       (A) a maximum amount to be awarded under the grant of not 
     more than $750,000 per grantee per fiscal year; and
       (B) intervals of payment for the administration of the 
     grant.
       (d) Distribution of Grants and Preference.--
       (1) Distribution.--
       (A) Priority.--In compliance with subparagraphs (B) and 
     (C), in determining how to distribute grants under this 
     section, the Secretary may prioritize--
       (i) rural communities;
       (ii) Tribal lands;
       (iii) territories of the United States;
       (iv) medically underserved areas;
       (v) areas with a high number or percentage of minority 
     veterans or women veterans; and
       (vi) areas with a high number or percentage of calls to the 
     Veterans Crisis Line.
       (B) Areas with need.--The Secretary shall ensure that, to 
     the extent practicable, grants under this section are 
     distributed--
       (i) to provide services in areas of the United States that 
     have experienced high rates of suicide by eligible 
     individuals, including suicide attempts; and
       (ii) to eligible entities that can assist eligible 
     individuals at risk of suicide who are not currently 
     receiving health care furnished by the Department.
       (C) Geography.--In distributing grants under this 
     paragraph, the Secretary may provide grants to eligible 
     entities that furnish services to eligible individuals and 
     their families in geographically dispersed areas.
       (2) Preference.--The Secretary shall give preference to 
     eligible entities that have demonstrated the ability to 
     provide or coordinate suicide prevention services.
       (e) Requirements for Receipt of Grants.--
       (1) Notification that services are from department.--Each 
     entity receiving a grant under this section to provide or 
     coordinate suicide prevention services to eligible 
     individuals and their families shall notify the recipients of 
     such services that such services are being paid for, in whole 
     or in part, by the Department.
       (2) Development of plan with eligible individuals and their 
     family.--Any plan developed with respect to the provision of 
     suicide prevention services for an eligible individual or 
     their family shall be developed in consultation with the 
     eligible individual and their family.
       (3) Coordination.--An entity receiving a grant under this 
     section shall--
       (A) coordinate with the Secretary with respect to the 
     provision of clinical services to eligible individuals in 
     accordance with subsection (n) or any other provisions of the 
     law regarding the delivery of health care by the Secretary;
       (B) inform every veteran who receives assistance under this 
     section from the entity of the ability of the veteran to 
     apply for enrollment in the patient enrollment system of the 
     Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States 
     Code; and
       (C) if such a veteran wishes to so enroll, inform the 
     veteran of a point of contact at the Department who can 
     assist the veteran in such enrollment.
       (4) Measurement and monitoring.--An entity receiving a 
     grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a 
     description of such tools and assessments the entity uses or 
     will use to determine the effectiveness of the services 
     furnished by the entity, which shall include the measures 
     developed under subsection (h)(2) and may include--
       (A) the effect of the services furnished by the entity on 
     the financial stability of the eligible individual;
       (B) the effect of the services furnished by the entity on 
     the mental health status, wellbeing, and suicide risk of the 
     eligible individual; and
       (C) the effect of the services furnished by the entity on 
     the social support of the eligible individuals receiving 
     those services.
       (5) Reports.--The Secretary--
       (A) shall require each entity receiving a grant under this 
     section to submit to the Secretary an annual report that 
     describes the projects carried out with such grant during the 
     year covered by the report;
       (B) shall specify to each such entity the evaluation 
     criteria and data and information to be submitted in such 
     report; and
       (C) may require each such entity to submit to the Secretary 
     such additional reports as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (f) Application for Grants.--
       (1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under 
     this section shall submit to the Secretary an application 
     therefor in such form, in such manner, and containing such 
     commitments and information as the Secretary considers 
     necessary to carry out this section.
       (2) Matters to be included.--Each application submitted by 
     an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall contain the 
     following:
       (A) A description of the suicide prevention services 
     proposed to be provided by the eligible entity and the 
     identified need for those services.
       (B) A detailed plan describing how the eligible entity 
     proposes to coordinate or deliver suicide prevention services 
     to eligible individuals, including--
       (i) an identification of the community partners, if any, 
     with which the eligible entity proposes to work in delivering 
     such services;
       (ii) a description of the arrangements currently in place 
     between the eligible entity and such partners with regard to 
     the provision or coordination of suicide prevention services;
       (iii) an identification of how long such arrangements have 
     been in place;
       (iv) a description of the suicide prevention services 
     provided by such partners that the eligible entity shall 
     coordinate, if any; and
       (v) an identification of local suicide prevention 
     coordinators of the Department and a description of how the 
     eligible entity will communicate with local suicide 
     prevention coordinators.
       (C) A description of the population of eligible individuals 
     and their families proposed to be provided suicide prevention 
     services.
       (D) Based on information and methods developed by the 
     Secretary for purposes of this subsection, an estimate of the 
     number of eligible individuals at risk of suicide and their 
     families proposed to be provided suicide prevention services, 
     including the percentage of those eligible individuals who 
     are not currently receiving care furnished by the Department.
       (E) Evidence of measurable outcomes related to reductions 
     in suicide risk and mood-related symptoms utilizing validated 
     instruments by the eligible entity (and the proposed partners 
     of the entity, if any) in providing suicide prevention 
     services to individuals at risk of suicide, particularly to 
     eligible individuals and their families.
       (F) A description of the managerial and technological 
     capacity of the eligible entity--
       (i) to coordinate the provision of suicide prevention 
     services with the provision of other services;
       (ii) to assess on an ongoing basis the needs of eligible 
     individuals and their families for suicide prevention 
     services;
       (iii) to coordinate the provision of suicide prevention 
     services with the services of the Department for which 
     eligible individuals are also eligible;
       (iv) to tailor suicide prevention services to the needs of 
     eligible individuals and their families;
       (v) to seek continuously new sources of assistance to 
     ensure the continuity of suicide prevention services for 
     eligible individuals and their families as long as they are 
     determined to be at risk of suicide; and
       (vi) to measure the effects of suicide prevention services 
     provided by the eligible entity or partner organization, in 
     accordance with subsection (h)(2), on the lives of eligible 
     individuals and their families who receive such services 
     provided by the organization using pre- and post-evaluations 
     on validated measures of suicide risk and mood-related 
     symptoms.
       (G) Clearly defined objectives for the provision of suicide 
     prevention services.
       (H) A description and physical address of the primary 
     location of the eligible entity.
       (I) A description of the geographic area the eligible 
     entity plans to serve during the grant award period for which 
     the application applies.
       (J) If the eligible entity is a State or local government 
     or an Indian tribe, the amount of grant funds proposed to be 
     made available to community partners, if any, through 
     agreements.

[[Page S4964]]

       (K) A description of how the eligible entity will assess 
     the effectiveness of the provision of grants under this 
     section.
       (L) An agreement to use the measures and metrics provided 
     by the Department for the purposes of measuring the 
     effectiveness of the programming as described in subsection 
     (h)(2).
       (M) Such additional application criteria as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate.
       (g) Training and Technical Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide training and 
     technical assistance, in coordination with the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention, to eligible entities in 
     receipt of grants under this section regarding--
       (A) suicide risk identification and management;
       (B) the data required to be collected and shared with the 
     Department;
       (C) the means of data collection and sharing;
       (D) familiarization with and appropriate use of any tool to 
     be used to measure the effectiveness of the use of the grants 
     provided; and
       (E) the requirements for reporting under subsection (e)(5) 
     on services provided via such grants.
       (2) Provision of training and technical assistance.--The 
     Secretary may provide the training and technical assistance 
     described in paragraph (1) directly or through grants or 
     contracts with appropriate public or nonprofit entities.
       (h) Administration of Grant Program.--
       (1) Selection criteria.--The Secretary, in consultation 
     with entities specified in paragraph (3), shall establish 
     criteria for the selection of eligible entities that have 
     submitted applications under subsection (f).
       (2) Development of measures and metrics.--The Secretary 
     shall develop, in consultation with entities specified in 
     paragraph (3), the following:
       (A) A framework for collecting and sharing information 
     about entities in receipt of grants under this section for 
     purposes of improving the services available for eligible 
     individuals and their families, set forth by service type, 
     locality, and eligibility criteria.
       (B) The measures and metrics to be used by each entity in 
     receipt of grants under this section to determine the 
     effectiveness of the programming being provided by such 
     entity in improving mental health status, wellbeing, and 
     reducing suicide risk and completed suicides of eligible 
     individuals and their families, which shall include an 
     existing measurement tool or protocol for the grant recipient 
     to utilize when determining programmatic effectiveness.
       (3) Coordination.--In developing a plan for the design and 
     implementation of the provision of grants under this section, 
     including criteria for the award of grants, the Secretary 
     shall consult with the following:
       (A) Veterans service organizations.
       (B) National organizations representing potential community 
     partners of eligible entities in providing supportive 
     services to address the needs of eligible individuals and 
     their families, including national organizations that--
       (i) advocate for the needs of individuals with or at risk 
     of behavioral health conditions;
       (ii) represent mayors;
       (iii) represent unions;
       (iv) represent first responders;
       (v) represent chiefs of police and sheriffs;
       (vi) represent governors;
       (vii) represent a territory of the United States; or
       (viii) represent a Tribal alliance.
       (C) National organizations representing members of the 
     Armed Forces.
       (D) National organizations that represent counties.
       (E) Organizations with which the Department has a current 
     memorandum of agreement or understanding related to mental 
     health or suicide prevention.
       (F) State departments of veterans affairs.
       (G) National organizations representing members of the 
     reserve components of the Armed Forces.
       (H) National organizations representing members of the 
     Coast Guard.
       (I) Organizations, including institutions of higher 
     education, with experience in creating measurement tools for 
     purposes of advising the Secretary on the most appropriate 
     existing measurement tool or protocol for the Department to 
     utilize.
       (J) The National Alliance on Mental Illness.
       (K) A labor organization (as such term is defined in 
     section 7103(a)(4) of title 5, United States Code).
       (L) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 
     Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 
     the President's Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a 
     National Tragedy of Suicide Task Force, and such other 
     organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate.
       (4) Report on grant criteria.--Not later than 30 days 
     before notifying eligible entities of the availability of 
     funding under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report containing--
       (A) criteria for the award of a grant under this section;
       (B) the already developed measures and metrics to be used 
     by the Department to measure the effectiveness of the use of 
     grants provided under this section as described in subsection 
     (h)(2); and
       (C) a framework for the sharing of information about 
     entities in receipt of grants under this section.
       (i) Information on Potential Eligible Individuals.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may make available to 
     recipients of grants under this section certain information 
     regarding potential eligible individuals who may receive 
     services for which such grant is provided.
       (2) Information included.--The information made available 
     under paragraph (1) with respect to potential eligible 
     individuals may include the following:
       (A) Confirmation of the status of a potential eligible 
     individual as a veteran.
       (B) Confirmation of whether the potential eligible 
     individual is enrolled in the patient enrollment system of 
     the Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United 
     States Code.
       (C) Confirmation of whether a potential eligible individual 
     is currently receiving care furnished by the Department or 
     has recently received such care.
       (3) Opt-out.--The Secretary shall allow an eligible 
     individual to opt out of having their information shared 
     under this subsection with recipients of grants under this 
     section.
       (j) Duration.--The authority of the Secretary to provide 
     grants under this section shall terminate on the date that is 
     three years after the date on which the first grant is 
     awarded under this section.
       (k) Reporting.--
       (1) Interim report.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date on 
     which the first grant is awarded under this section, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress a report on the provision of grants to eligible 
     entities under this section.
       (B) Elements.--The report submitted under subparagraph (A) 
     shall include the following:
       (i) An assessment of the effectiveness of the grant program 
     under this section, including--

       (I) the effectiveness of grant recipients and their 
     community partners, if any, in conducting outreach to 
     eligible individuals;
       (II) the effectiveness of increasing eligible individuals 
     engagement in suicide prevention services; and
       (III) such other validated instruments and additional 
     measures as determined by the Secretary and as described in 
     subsection (h)(2).

       (ii) A list of grant recipients and their partner 
     organizations, if any, that delivered services funded by the 
     grant and the amount of such grant received by each recipient 
     and partner organization.
       (iii) The number of eligible individuals supported by each 
     grant recipient, including through services provided to 
     family members, disaggregated by--

       (I) all demographic characteristics as determined necessary 
     and appropriate by the Secretary in coordination with the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
       (II) whether each such eligible individual is enrolled in 
     the patient enrollment system of the Department under section 
     1705(a) of title 38, United States Code;
       (III) branch of service in the Armed Forces;
       (IV) era of service in the Armed Forces;
       (V) type of service received by the eligible individual; 
     and
       (VI) whether each such eligible individual was referred to 
     the Department for care.

       (iv) The number of eligible individuals supported by grants 
     under this section, including through services provided to 
     family members.
       (v) The number of eligible individuals described in clause 
     (iv) who were not previously receiving care furnished by the 
     Department, with specific numbers for the population of 
     eligible individuals described in subsection (q)(4)(B).
       (vi) The number of eligible individuals whose mental health 
     status, wellbeing, and suicide risk received a baseline 
     measurement assessment under this section and the number of 
     such eligible individuals whose mental health status, 
     wellbeing, and suicide risk will be measured by the 
     Department or a community partner over a period of time for 
     any improvements.
       (vii) The types of data the Department was able to collect 
     and share with partners, including a characterization of the 
     benefits of that data.
       (viii) The number and percentage of eligible individuals 
     referred to the point of contact at the Department under 
     subsection (e)(3)(C).
       (ix) The number of eligible individuals newly enrolled in 
     the patient enrollment system of the Department under section 
     1705(a) of title 38, United States Code based on a referral 
     to the Department from a grant recipient under subsection 
     (e)(3)(C), disaggregated by grant recipient.
       (x) A detailed account of how the grant funds were used, 
     including executive compensation, overhead costs, and other 
     indirect costs.
       (xi) A description of any outreach activities conducted by 
     the eligible entity in receipt of a grant with respect to 
     services provided using the grant.
       (xii) The number of individuals who seek services from the 
     grant recipient who are not eligible individuals.
       (C) Submittal of information by grant recipients.--The 
     Secretary may require eligible entities receiving grants 
     under this

[[Page S4965]]

     section to provide to Congress such information as the 
     Secretary determines necessary regarding the elements 
     described in subparagraph (B).
       (2) Final report.--Not later than three years after the 
     date on which the first grant is awarded under this section, 
     and annually thereafter for each year in which the program is 
     in effect, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
     committees of Congress--
       (A) a follow-up on the interim report submitted under 
     paragraph (1) containing the elements set forth in 
     subparagraph (B) of such paragraph; and
       (B) a report on--
       (i) the effectiveness of the provision of grants under this 
     section, including the effectiveness of community partners in 
     conducting outreach to eligible individuals and their 
     families and reducing the rate of suicide among eligible 
     individuals;
       (ii) an assessment of the increased capacity of the 
     Department to provide services to eligible individuals and 
     their families, set forth by State, as a result of the 
     provision of grants under this section;
       (iii) the feasibility and advisability of extending or 
     expanding the provision of grants consistent with this 
     section; and
       (iv) such other elements as considered appropriate by the 
     Secretary.
       (l) Third-party Assessment.--
       (1) Study of grant program.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     commencement of the grant program under this section, the 
     Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract with an 
     appropriate entity described in paragraph (3) to conduct a 
     study of the grant program.
       (B) Elements of study.--In conducting the study under 
     subparagraph (A), the appropriate entity shall--
       (i) evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program under 
     this section in--

       (I) addressing the factors that contribute to suicides;
       (II) increasing the use of suicide prevention services;
       (III) reducing mood-related symptoms that increase suicide 
     and suicide risk; and
       (IV) where such information is available due to the time 
     frame of the grant program, reducing suicidal ideation, 
     suicide attempts, self-harm, and deaths by suicide; and
       (V) reducing suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, self-
     harm, and deaths by suicide among eligible individuals 
     through eligible entities located in communities; and

       (ii) compare the results of the grant program with other 
     national programs in delivering resources to eligible 
     individuals in the communities where they live that address 
     the factors that contribute to suicide.
       (2) Assessment.--
       (A) In general.--The contract under paragraph (1) shall 
     provide that not later than 24 months after the commencement 
     of the grant program under this section, the appropriate 
     entity shall submit to the Secretary an assessment based on 
     the study conducted pursuant to such contract.
       (B) Submittal to congress.--Upon receipt of the assessment 
     under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall transmit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a copy of the assessment.
       (3) Appropriate entity.--An appropriate entity described in 
     this paragraph is a nongovernment entity with experience 
     optimizing and assessing organizations that deliver services 
     and assessing the effectiveness of suicide prevention 
     programs.
       (m) Referral for Care.--
       (1) Mental health assessment.--If an eligible entity in 
     receipt of a grant under this section determines that an 
     eligible individual is at-risk of suicide or other mental or 
     behavioral health condition pursuant to a baseline mental 
     health screening conducted under subsection (q)(11)(A)(ii) 
     with respect to the individual, the entity shall refer the 
     eligible individual to the Department for additional care 
     under subsection (n) or any other provision of law.
       (2) Emergency treatment.--If an eligible entity in receipt 
     of a grant under this section determines that an eligible 
     individual furnished clinical services for emergency 
     treatment under subsection (q)(11)(A)(iv) requires ongoing 
     services, the entity shall refer the eligible individual to 
     the Department for additional care under subsection (n) or 
     any other provision of law.
       (3) Refusal.--If an eligible individual refuses a referral 
     by an entity under paragraph (1) or (2), any ongoing clinical 
     services provided to the eligible individual by the entity 
     shall be at the expense of the entity.
       (n) Provision of Care to Eligible Individuals.--When the 
     Secretary determines it is clinically appropriate, the 
     Secretary shall furnish to eligible individuals who are 
     receiving or have received suicide prevention services 
     through grants provided under this section an initial mental 
     health assessment and mental health or behavioral health care 
     services authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United 
     States Code, that are required to treat the mental or 
     behavioral health care needs of the eligible individual, 
     including risk of suicide.
       (o) Agreements With Community Partners.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible 
     entity may use grant funds to enter into an agreement with a 
     community partner under which the eligible entity may provide 
     funds to the community partner for the provision of suicide 
     prevention services to eligible individuals and their 
     families.
       (2) Limitation.--The ability of a recipient of a grant 
     under this section to provide grant funds to a community 
     partner shall be limited to grant recipients that are a State 
     or local government or an Indian tribe.
       (p) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
     a total of $174,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
       (q) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Subcommittee 
     on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related 
     Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
     and
       (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Subcommittee 
     on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related 
     Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
       (A) an incorporated private institution or foundation--
       (i) no part of the net earnings of which incurs to the 
     benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual; 
     and
       (ii) that has a governing board that would be responsible 
     for the operation of the suicide prevention services provided 
     under this section;
       (B) a corporation wholly owned and controlled by an 
     organization meeting the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) 
     of subparagraph (A);
       (C) an Indian tribe;
       (D) a community-based organization that can effectively 
     network with local civic organizations, regional health 
     systems, and other settings where eligible individuals and 
     their families are likely to have contact; or
       (E) A State or local government.
       (4) Eligible individual.--The term ``eligible individual'' 
     includes a person at risk of suicide who is--
       (A) a veteran as defined in section 101 of title 38, United 
     States Code;
       (B) an individual described in section 1720I(b) of such 
     title; or
       (C) an individual described in any of clauses (i) through 
     (iv) of section 1712A(a)(1)(C) of such title.
       (5) Emergency treatment.--Medical services, professional 
     services, ambulance services, ancillary care and medication 
     (including a short course of medication related to and 
     necessary for the treatment of the emergency condition that 
     is provided directly to or prescribed for the patient for use 
     after the emergency condition is stabilized and the patient 
     is discharged) was rendered in a medical emergency of such 
     nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably 
     expected that delay in seeking immediate medical attention 
     would have been hazardous to life or health. This standard is 
     met by an emergency medical condition manifesting itself by 
     acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) 
     that a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge 
     of health and medicine could reasonably expect the absence of 
     immediate medical attention to result in placing the health 
     of the individual in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to 
     bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ 
     or part.
       (6) Family.--The term ``family'' means, with respect to an 
     eligible individual, any of the following:
       (A) A parent.
       (B) A spouse.
       (C) A child.
       (D) A sibling.
       (E) A step-family member.
       (F) An extended family member.
       (G) Any other individual who lives with the eligible 
     individual.
       (7) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the 
     meaning given that term in section 4 of the Native American 
     Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 
     U.S.C. 4103).
       (8) Risk of suicide.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``risk of suicide'' means 
     exposure to, or the existence of, any of the following (to a 
     degree determined by the Secretary pursuant to regulations):
       (i) Health risk factors, including the following:

       (I) Mental health challenges.
       (II) Substance abuse.
       (III) Serious or chronic health conditions or pain.
       (IV) Traumatic brain injury.

       (ii) Environmental risk factors, including the following:

       (I) Prolonged stress.
       (II) Stressful life events.
       (III) Unemployment.
       (IV) Homelessness.
       (V) Recent loss.
       (VI) Legal or financial challenges.

       (iii) Historical risk factors, including the following:

       (I) Previous suicide attempts.
       (II) Family history of suicide.
       (III) History of abuse, neglect, or trauma.

       (B) Degree of risk.--The Secretary may, by regulation, 
     establish a process for determining degrees of risk of 
     suicide for use by grant recipients to focus the delivery of 
     services using grant funds.
       (9) Rural.--The term ``rural'', with respect to a 
     community, has the meaning given that term in the Rural-Urban 
     Commuting Areas coding system of the Department of 
     Agriculture.
       (10) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs.

[[Page S4966]]

       (11) Suicide prevention services.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``suicide prevention services'' 
     means services to address the needs of eligible individuals 
     and their families and includes the following:
       (i) Outreach to identify those at risk of suicide with an 
     emphasis on eligible individuals who are at highest risk or 
     who are not receiving health care or other services furnished 
     by the Department.
       (ii) A baseline mental health screening for risk.
       (iii) Education on suicide risk and prevention to families 
     and communities.
       (iv) Provision of clinical services for emergency 
     treatment.
       (v) Case management services.
       (vi) Peer support services.
       (vii) Assistance in obtaining any benefits from the 
     Department that the eligible individual and their family may 
     be eligible to receive, including--

       (I) vocational and rehabilitation counseling;
       (II) supportive services for homeless veterans;
       (III) employment and training services;
       (IV) educational assistance; and
       (V) health care services.

       (viii) Assistance in obtaining and coordinating the 
     provision of other benefits provided by the Federal 
     Government, a State or local government, or an eligible 
     entity.
       (ix) Assistance with emergent needs relating to--

       (I) health care services;
       (II) daily living services;
       (III) personal financial planning and counseling;
       (IV) transportation services;
       (V) temporary income support services;
       (VI) fiduciary and representative payee services;
       (VII) legal services to assist the eligible individual with 
     issues that may contribute to the risk of suicide; and
       (VIII) child care (not to exceed $5,000 per family of an 
     eligible individual per fiscal year).

       (x) Nontraditional and innovative approaches and treatment 
     practices, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, in 
     consultation with appropriate entities.
       (xi) Such other services necessary for improving the mental 
     health status and wellbeing and reducing the suicide risk of 
     eligible individuals and their families as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate, which may include--

       (I) adaptive sports, equine assisted therapy, or in-place 
     or outdoor recreational therapy;
       (II) substance use reduction programming;
       (III) individual, group, or family counseling; and
       (IV) relationship coaching.

       (B) Exclusion.--The term ``suicide prevention services'' 
     does not include direct cash assistance to eligible 
     individuals or their families.
       (12) Veterans crisis line.--The term ``Veterans Crisis 
     Line'' means the toll-free hotline for veterans established 
     under section 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code.
       (13) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans 
     service organization'' means any organization recognized by 
     the Secretary for the representation of veterans under 
     section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 202. ANALYSIS ON FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVIDING 
                   CERTAIN COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE HEALTH 
                   SERVICES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall complete an analysis on the feasibility and 
     advisability of providing complementary and integrative 
     health treatments described in subsection (c) at all medical 
     facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Inclusion of Assessment of Report.--The analysis 
     conducted under subsection (a) shall include an assessment of 
     the final report of the Creating Options for Veterans' 
     Expedited Recovery Commission (commonly referred to as the 
     ``COVER Commission'') established under section 931 of the 
     Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act (title IX of Public 
     Law 114-198; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) submitted under subsection 
     (e)(2) of such section.
       (c) Treatments Described.--Complementary and integrative 
     health treatments described in this subsection shall consist 
     of the following:
       (1) Yoga.
       (2) Meditation.
       (3) Acupuncture.
       (4) Chiropractic care.
       (5) Other treatments that show sufficient evidence of 
     efficacy at treating mental or physical health conditions, as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       (d) Report.--The Secretary 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 analysis completed under subsection (a), including--
       (1) the results of such analysis; and
       (2) such recommendations regarding the furnishing of 
     complementary and integrative health treatments described in 
     subsection (c) as the Secretary considers appropriate.

     SEC. 203. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VETERANS ACCESS TO 
                   COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS 
                   THROUGH ANIMAL THERAPY, AGRITHERAPY, SPORTS AND 
                   RECREATION THERAPY, ART THERAPY, AND 
                   POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date on 
     which the Creating Options for Veterans' Expedited Recovery 
     Commission (commonly referred to as the ``COVER Commission'') 
     established under section 931 of the Jason Simcakoski 
     Memorial and Promise Act (title IX of Public Law 114-198; 38 
     U.S.C. 1701 note) submits its final report under subsection 
     (e)(2) of such section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall commence the conduct of a pilot program to provide 
     complementary and integrative health programs described in 
     subsection (b) to eligible veterans from the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs or through the use of non-Department 
     entities for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, 
     depression, anxiety, or other conditions as determined by the 
     Secretary.
       (b) Programs Described.--Complementary and integrative 
     health programs described in this subsection may, taking into 
     consideration the report described in subsection (a), consist 
     of the following:
       (1) Equine therapy.
       (2) Other animal therapy.
       (3) Agritherapy.
       (4) Sports and recreation therapy.
       (5) Art therapy.
       (6) Posttraumatic growth programs.
       (c) Eligible Veterans.--A veteran is eligible to 
     participate in the pilot program under this section if the 
     veteran--
       (1) is enrolled in the system of patient enrollment of the 
     Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States 
     Code; and
       (2) has received health care under the laws administered by 
     the Secretary during the two-year period preceding the 
     initial participation of the veteran in the pilot program.
       (d) Duration.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
     program under this section for a three-year period beginning 
     on the commencement of the pilot program.
       (2) Extension.--The Secretary may extend the duration of 
     the pilot program under this section if the Secretary, based 
     on the results of the interim report submitted under 
     subsection (f)(1), determines that it is appropriate to do 
     so.
       (e) Locations.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall select not fewer than 
     five facilities of the Department at which to carry out the 
     pilot program under this section.
       (2) Selection criteria.--In selecting facilities under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that--
       (A) the locations are in geographically diverse areas; and
       (B) not fewer than three facilities serve veterans in rural 
     or highly rural areas (as determined through the use of the 
     Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding system of the Department 
     of Agriculture).
       (f) Reports.--
       (1) Interim report.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
     commencement of the pilot program under this section, the 
     Secretary 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 progress of the 
     pilot program.
       (B) Elements.--The report required by subparagraph (A) 
     shall include the following:
       (i) The number of participants in the pilot program.
       (ii) The type or types of therapy offered at each facility 
     at which the pilot program is being carried out.
       (iii) An assessment of whether participation by a veteran 
     in the pilot program resulted in any changes in clinically 
     relevant endpoints for the veteran with respect to the 
     conditions specified in subsection (a).
       (iv) An assessment of the quality of life of veterans 
     participating in the pilot program, including the results of 
     a satisfaction survey of the participants in the pilot 
     program, disaggregated by program under subsection (b).
       (v) The determination of the Secretary with respect to 
     extending the pilot program under subsection (d)(2).
       (vi) Any recommendations of the Secretary with respect to 
     expanding the pilot program.
       (2) Final report.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     termination of the pilot program under this section, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     House of Representatives a final report on the pilot program.

     SEC. 204. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS STUDY OF ALL-CAUSE 
                   MORTALITY OF VETERANS, INCLUDING BY SUICIDE, 
                   AND REVIEW OF STAFFING LEVELS OF MENTAL HEALTH 
                   PROFESSIONALS.

       (a) Study of Deaths of Veterans by Suicide.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies 
     of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under which the 
     Secretary shall collaborate and coordinate with the National 
     Academies on a revised study design to fulfill the goals of 
     the 2019 study design of the National Academies described in 
     the explanatory statement accompanying the Further 
     Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94), as 
     part of current and additional research priorities of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, to evaluate the effects of 
     opioids and

[[Page S4967]]

     benzodiazepine on all-cause mortality of veterans, including 
     suicide, regardless of whether information relating to such 
     deaths has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention.
       (2) Goals.--In carrying out the collaboration and 
     coordination under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall seek as 
     much as possible to achieve the same advancement of useful 
     knowledge as the 2019 study design described in such 
     paragraph.
       (b) Review of Staffing Levels for Mental Health 
     Professionals.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall conduct a review of the staffing levels 
     for mental health professionals of the Department.
       (2) Elements.--The review required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include a description of the efforts of the Department to 
     maintain appropriate staffing levels for mental health 
     professionals, such as mental health counselors, marriage and 
     family therapists, and other appropriate counselors, 
     including the following:
       (A) A description of any impediments to carry out the 
     education, training, and hiring of mental health counselors 
     and marriage and family therapists under section 7302(a) of 
     title 38, United States Code, and strategies for addressing 
     those impediments.
       (B) A description of the objectives, goals, and timing of 
     the Department with respect to increasing the representation 
     of such counselors and therapists in the behavioral health 
     workforce of the Department, including--
       (i) a review of qualification criteria for such counselors 
     and therapists and a comparison of such criteria to that of 
     other behavioral health professions in the Department; and
       (ii) an assessment of the participation of such counselors 
     and therapists in the mental health professionals trainee 
     program of the Department and any impediments to such 
     participation.
       (C) An assessment of the development by the Department of 
     hiring guidelines for mental health counselors, marriage and 
     family therapists, and other appropriate counselors.
       (D) A description of how the Department--
       (i) identifies gaps in the supply of mental health 
     professionals; and
       (ii) determines successful staffing ratios for mental 
     health professionals of the Department.
       (E) A description of actions taken by the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management, to create an occupational series for mental 
     health counselors and marriage and family therapists of the 
     Department and a timeline for the creation of such an 
     occupational series.
       (F) A description of actions taken by the Secretary to 
     ensure that the national, regional, and local professional 
     standards boards for mental health counselors and marriage 
     and family therapists are comprised of only mental health 
     counselors and marriage and family therapists and that the 
     liaison from the Department to such boards is a mental health 
     counselor or marriage and family therapist.
       (c) Compilation of Data.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall ensure that data under subsections (a) and (b) is 
     compiled separately and disaggregated by year and compiled in 
     a manner that allows it to be analyzed across all data fields 
     for purposes of informing and updating clinical practice 
     guidelines of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (d) Briefings.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     brief the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
     the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives containing the interim results--
       (1) with respect to the study under subsection (a)(1), not 
     later than 24 months after entering into the agreement under 
     such subsection; and
       (2) with respect to the review under subsection (b)(1), not 
     later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
       (e) Reports.--
       (1) Report on study.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     completion by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 
     coordination with the National Academies of Sciences, 
     Engineering, and Medicine of the study required under 
     subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall--
       (A) 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 results of the study; and
       (B) make such report publicly available.
       (2) Report on review.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     completion by the Comptroller General of the United States of 
     the review required under subsection (b)(1), the Comptroller 
     General shall--
       (A) 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 results of the review; and
       (B) make such report publicly available.

     SEC. 205. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON MANAGEMENT BY 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF VETERANS AT 
                   HIGH RISK FOR SUICIDE.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months 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 efforts of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs to manage veterans at high 
     risk for suicide.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) A description of how the Department identifies patients 
     as high risk for suicide, with particular consideration to 
     the efficacy of inputs into the Recovery Engagement and 
     Coordination for Health - Veterans Enhanced Treatment program 
     (commonly referred to as the ``REACH VET'' program) of the 
     Department, including an assessment of the efficacy of such 
     identifications disaggregated by--
       (A) all demographic characteristics as determined necessary 
     and appropriate by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 
     coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention;
       (B) Veterans Integrated Service Network; and
       (C) to the extent practicable, medical center of the 
     Department.
       (2) A description of how the Department intervenes when a 
     patient is identified as high risk, including an assessment 
     of the efficacy of such interventions disaggregated by--
       (A) all demographic characteristics as determined necessary 
     and appropriate by the Secretary in coordination with the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
       (B) Veterans Integrated Service Network; and
       (C) to the extent practicable, medical center of the 
     Department.
       (3) A description of how the Department monitors patients 
     who have been identified as high risk, including an 
     assessment of the efficacy of such monitoring and any follow-
     ups disaggregated by--
       (A) all demographic characteristics as determined necessary 
     and appropriate by the Secretary in coordination with the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
       (B) Veterans Integrated Service Network; and
       (C) to the extent practicable, medical center of the 
     Department.
       (4) A review of staffing levels of suicide prevention 
     coordinators across the Veterans Health Administration.
       (5) A review of the resources and programming offered to 
     family members and friends of veterans who have a mental 
     health condition in order to assist that veteran in treatment 
     and recovery.
       (6) An assessment of such other areas as the Comptroller 
     General considers appropriate to study.

     TITLE III--PROGRAMS, STUDIES, AND GUIDELINES ON MENTAL HEALTH

     SEC. 301. STUDY ON CONNECTION BETWEEN LIVING AT HIGH ALTITUDE 
                   AND SUICIDE RISK FACTORS AMONG VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
     in consultation with Rural Health Resource Centers of the 
     Office of Rural Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
     shall commence the conduct of a study on the connection 
     between living at high altitude and the risk of developing 
     depression or dying by suicide among veterans.
       (b) Completion of Study.--The study conducted under 
     subsection (a) shall be completed not later than three years 
     after the date of the commencement of the study.
       (c) Individual Impact.--The study conducted under 
     subsection (a) shall be conducted so as to determine the 
     effect of high altitude on suicide risk at the individual 
     level, not at the State or county level.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 150 days after the completion 
     of the study conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary 
     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 results of the study.
       (e) Follow-up Study.--
       (1) In general.--If the Secretary determines through the 
     study conducted under subsection (a) that living at high 
     altitude is a risk factor for developing depression or dying 
     by suicide, the Secretary shall conduct an additional study 
     to identify the following:
       (A) The most likely biological mechanism that makes living 
     at high altitude a risk factor for developing depression or 
     dying by suicide.
       (B) The most effective treatment or intervention for 
     reducing the risk of developing depression or dying by 
     suicide associated with living at high altitude.
       (2) Report.--Not later than 150 days after completing the 
     study conducted under paragraph (1), the Secretary 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 results of the study.

     SEC. 302. ESTABLISHMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND 
                   DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF A CLINICAL PROVIDER 
                   TREATMENT TOOLKIT AND ACCOMPANYING TRAINING 
                   MATERIALS FOR COMORBIDITIES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than two years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
     in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall develop 
     a clinical provider treatment toolkit and accompanying 
     training materials for the evidence-based management of 
     comorbid mental health conditions, comorbid mental health and 
     substance use disorders, and a comorbid mental health 
     condition and chronic pain.

[[Page S4968]]

       (b) Matters Included.--In developing the clinical provider 
     treatment toolkit and accompanying training materials under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the toolkit and 
     training materials include guidance with respect to the 
     following:
       (1) The treatment of patients with post-traumatic stress 
     disorder who are also experiencing an additional mental 
     health condition, a substance use disorder, or chronic pain.
       (2) The treatment of patients experiencing a mental health 
     condition, including anxiety, depression, or bipolar 
     disorder, who are also experiencing a substance use disorder 
     or chronic pain.
       (3) The treatment of patients with traumatic brain injury 
     who are also experiencing--
       (A) a mental health condition, including post-traumatic 
     stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder;
       (B) a substance use disorder; or
       (C) chronic pain.

     SEC. 303. UPDATE OF CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR 
                   ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS AT RISK 
                   FOR SUICIDE.

       (a) In General.--In the first publication of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense Clinical 
     Practice Guideline for Assessment and Management of Patients 
     at Risk for Suicide published after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Secretary of Defense, through the Assessment and Management 
     of Patients at Risk for Suicide Work Group (in this section 
     referred to as the ``Work Group''), shall ensure the 
     publication includes the following:
       (1) Enhanced guidance with respect to gender-specific--
       (A) risk factors for suicide and suicidal ideation;
       (B) treatment efficacy for depression and suicide 
     prevention;
       (C) pharmacotherapy efficacy; and
       (D) psychotherapy efficacy.
       (2) Guidance with respect to the efficacy of alternative 
     therapies, other than psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, 
     including the following:
       (A) Yoga therapy.
       (B) Meditation therapy.
       (C) Equine therapy.
       (D) Other animal therapy.
       (E) Training and caring for service dogs.
       (F) Agritherapy.
       (G) Art therapy.
       (H) Outdoor sports therapy.
       (I) Music therapy.
       (J) Any other alternative therapy that the Work Group 
     considers appropriate.
       (3) Guidance with respect to the findings of the Creating 
     Options for Veterans' Expedited Recovery Commission (commonly 
     referred to as the ``COVER Commission'') established under 
     section 931 of the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act 
     (title IX of Public Law 114-198; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note).
       (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 
     the Secretary of Defense from considering all relevant 
     evidence, as appropriate, in updating the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense Clinical Practice 
     Guideline for Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk 
     for Suicide, as required under subsection (a), or from 
     ensuring that the final clinical practice guidelines updated 
     under such subsection remain applicable to the patient 
     populations of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Department of Defense.

     SEC. 304. ESTABLISHMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND 
                   DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF CLINICAL PRACTICE 
                   GUIDELINES FOR THE TREATMENT OF SERIOUS MENTAL 
                   ILLNESS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than two years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
     in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall complete the 
     development of a clinical practice guideline or guidelines 
     for the treatment of serious mental illness, to include the 
     following conditions:
       (1) Schizophrenia.
       (2) Schizoaffective disorder.
       (3) Persistent mood disorder, including bipolar disorder I 
     and II.
       (4) Any other mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder 
     resulting in serious functional impairment that substantially 
     interferes with major life activities as the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
     considers appropriate.
       (b) Matters Included in Guidelines.--The clinical practice 
     guideline or guidelines developed under subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) Guidance contained in the 2016 Clinical Practice 
     Guidelines for the Management of Major Depressive Disorders 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of 
     Defense.
       (2) Guidance with respect to the treatment of patients with 
     a condition described in subsection (a).
       (3) A list of evidence-based therapies for the treatment of 
     conditions described in subsection (a).
       (4) An appropriate guideline for the administration of 
     pharmacological therapy, psychological or behavioral therapy, 
     or other therapy for the management of conditions described 
     in subsection (a).
       (c) Assessment of Existing Guidelines.--Not later than two 
     years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, shall complete an assessment of the 2016 Clinical 
     Practice Guidelines for the Management of Major Depressive 
     Disorders to determine whether an update to such guidelines 
     is necessary.
       (d) Work Group.--
       (1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the 
     Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services shall create a work group to develop the clinical 
     practice guideline or guidelines under subsection (a) to be 
     known as the ``Serious Mental Illness Work Group'' (in this 
     subsection referred to as the ``Work Group'').
       (2) Membership.--The Work Group created under paragraph (1) 
     shall be comprised of individuals that represent Federal 
     Government entities and non-Federal Government entities with 
     expertise in the areas covered by the Work Group, including 
     the following entities:
       (A) Academic institutions that specialize in research for 
     the treatment of conditions described in subsection (a).
       (B) The Health Services Research and Development Service of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (C) The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health 
     and Substance Use of the Department of Health and Human 
     Services.
       (D) The National Institute of Mental Health.
       (E) The Indian Health Service.
       (F) Relevant organizations with expertise in researching, 
     diagnosing, or treating conditions described in subsection 
     (a).
       (3) Relation to other work groups.--The Work Group shall be 
     created and conducted in the same manner as other work groups 
     for the development of clinical practice guidelines for the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
       (e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 
     the Secretary of Defense from considering all relevant 
     evidence, as appropriate, in creating the clinical practice 
     guideline or guidelines required under subsection (a) or from 
     ensuring that the final clinical practice guideline or 
     guidelines developed under such subsection and subsequently 
     updated, as appropriate, remain applicable to the patient 
     populations of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Department of Defense.

     SEC. 305. PRECISION MEDICINE INITIATIVE OF DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS TO IDENTIFY AND VALIDATE BRAIN 
                   AND MENTAL HEALTH BIOMARKERS.

       (a) In General.--Beginning not later than 18 months after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall develop and implement an initiative of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify and validate 
     brain and mental health biomarkers among veterans, with 
     specific consideration for depression, anxiety, post-
     traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, traumatic brain 
     injury, and such other mental health conditions as the 
     Secretary considers appropriate. Such initiative may be 
     referred to as the ``Precision Medicine for Veterans 
     Initiative''.
       (b) Model of Initiative.--The initiative under subsection 
     (a) shall be modeled on the All of Us Precision Medicine 
     Initiative administered by the National Institutes of Health 
     with respect to large-scale collection of standardized data 
     and open data sharing.
       (c) Methods.--The initiative under subsection (a) shall 
     include brain structure and function measurements, such as 
     functional magnetic resonance imaging and 
     electroencephalogram, and shall coordinate with additional 
     biological methods of analysis utilized in the Million 
     Veterans Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (d) Use of Data.--
       (1) Privacy and security.--In carrying out the initiative 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop robust data 
     privacy and security measures, consistent with section 552a 
     of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the 
     ``Privacy Act of 1974''), and regulations promulgated 
     pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and 
     Accountability Act of 1996 (parts 160, 162, and 164 of title 
     45, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulations) to 
     ensure that information of veterans participating in the 
     initiative is kept private and secure.
       (2) Consultation with the national institutes of science 
     and technology.--The Secretary may consult with the National 
     Institute of Science and Technology in developing the data 
     privacy and security measures described in paragraph (1).
       (3) Access standards.--The Secretary shall provide access 
     to information under the initiative consistent with the 
     standards described in section 552a(d)(1) of title 5, United 
     States Code, and section 164.524 of title 45, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, or successor regulations.
       (4) Open platform.--
       (A) Availability of data.--The Secretary shall make de-
     identified data collected under the initiative available for 
     research purposes to Federal agencies.
       (B) Contract.--The Secretary shall contract with 
     nongovernment entities that comply with requisite data 
     security measures to make available for research purposes de-
     identified data collected under the initiative.

[[Page S4969]]

       (C) Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide assistance to 
     a Federal agency conducting research using data collected 
     under the initiative at the request of that agency.
       (D) Prohibition on transfer of data.--Federal agencies may 
     not disclose, transmit, share, sell, license, or otherwise 
     transfer data collected under the initiative to any 
     nongovernment entity other than as allowed under subparagraph 
     (B).
       (5) Standardization.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that data 
     collected under the initiative is standardized.
       (B) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with the 
     National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug 
     Administration to determine the most effective, efficient, 
     and cost-effective way of standardizing data collected under 
     the initiative.
       (C) Manner of standardization.--In consultation with the 
     National Institute for Science and Technology, data collected 
     under the initiative shall be standardized in the manner in 
     which it is collected, entered into the database, extracted, 
     and recorded.
       (6) Measures of brain function or structure.--Any measures 
     of brain function or structure collected under the initiative 
     shall be collected with a device that is approved by the Food 
     and Drug Administration.
       (7) De-identified data defined.--In this subsection, the 
     term ``de-identified data'' means, with respect to data held 
     by the Department of Veterans Affairs, that the Department--
       (A) alters, anonymizes, or aggregates the data so that 
     there is a reasonable basis for expecting that the data could 
     not be linked as a practical matter to a specific individual;
       (B) publicly commits to refrain from attempting to re-
     identify the data with a specific individual, and adopts 
     controls to prevent such identification; and
       (C) causes the data to be covered by a contractual or other 
     legally enforceable prohibition on each entity to which the 
     Department discloses the data from attempting to use the data 
     to identify a specific individual and requires the same of 
     all onward disclosures.
       (e) Inclusion of Initiative in Program.--The Secretary 
     shall coordinate efforts of the initiative under subsection 
     (a) with the Million Veterans Program of the Department.

     SEC. 306. STATISTICAL ANALYSES AND DATA EVALUATION BY 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 38, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 119. Contracting for statistical analyses and data 
       evaluation

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may enter into a contract 
     or other agreement with an academic institution or other 
     qualified entity, as determined by the Secretary, to carry 
     out statistical analyses and data evaluation as required of 
     the Secretary by law.''.
       ``(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to enter 
     into contracts or other agreements for statistical analyses 
     and data evaluation under any other provision of law.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 1 of such title is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new item:

``119. Contracting for statistical analyses and data evaluation.''.

     TITLE IV--OVERSIGHT OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND RELATED SERVICES

     SEC. 401. STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF SUICIDE PREVENTION AND 
                   MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT 
                   OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall enter into an agreement with a non-Federal Government 
     entity with expertise in conducting and evaluating research-
     based studies to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the 
     suicide prevention and mental health outreach materials 
     prepared by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
     suicide prevention and mental health outreach campaigns 
     conducted by the Department.
       (b) Use of Focus Groups.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall convene not fewer than 
     eight different focus groups to evaluate the effectiveness of 
     the suicide prevention and mental health materials and 
     campaigns as required under subsection (a).
       (2) Location of focus groups.--Focus groups convened under 
     paragraph (1) shall be held in geographically diverse areas 
     as follows:
       (A) Not fewer than two in rural or highly rural areas.
       (B) Not fewer than one in each of the four districts of the 
     Veterans Benefits Administration.
       (3) Timing of focus groups.--Focus groups convened under 
     paragraph (1) shall be held at a variety of dates and times 
     to ensure an adequate representation of veterans with 
     different work schedules.
       (4) Number of participants.--Each focus group convened 
     under paragraph (1) shall include not fewer than five and not 
     more than 12 participants.
       (5) Representation.--Each focus group convened under 
     paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable, include 
     veterans of diverse backgrounds, including--
       (A) veterans of all eras, as determined by the Secretary;
       (B) women veterans;
       (C) minority veterans;
       (D) Native American veterans, as defined in section 3765 of 
     title 38, United States Code;
       (E) veterans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, 
     transgender, or queer (commonly referred to as ``LGBTQ'');
       (F) veterans who live in rural or highly rural areas;
       (G) individuals transitioning from active duty in the Armed 
     Forces to civilian life; and
       (H) other high-risk groups of veterans, as determined by 
     the Secretary.
       (c) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the last 
     focus group meeting under subsection (b), the Secretary 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 findings of the focus groups.
       (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) Based on the findings of the focus groups, an 
     assessment of the effectiveness of current suicide prevention 
     and mental health materials and campaigns of the Department 
     in reaching veterans as a whole as well as specific groups of 
     veterans (for example, women veterans).
       (B) Based on the findings of the focus groups, 
     recommendations for future suicide prevention and mental 
     health materials and campaigns of the Department to target 
     specific groups of veterans.
       (C) A plan to change the current suicide prevention and 
     mental health materials and campaigns of the Department or, 
     if the Secretary decides not to change the current materials 
     and campaigns, an explanation of the reason for maintaining 
     the current materials and campaigns.
       (D) A description of any dissenting or opposing viewpoints 
     raised by participants in the focus group.
       (E) Such other issues as the Secretary considers necessary.
       (d) Representative Survey.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the last 
     focus group meeting under subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
     complete a representative survey of the veteran population 
     that is informed by the focus group data in order to collect 
     information about the effectiveness of the mental health and 
     suicide prevention materials and campaigns conducted by the 
     Department.
       (2) Veterans surveyed.--
       (A) In general.--Veterans surveyed under paragraph (1) 
     shall include veterans described in subsection (b)(5).
       (B) Disaggregation of data.--Data of veterans surveyed 
     under paragraph (1) shall be disaggregated by--
       (i) veterans who have received care from the Department 
     during the two-year period preceding the survey; and
       (ii) veterans who have not received care from the 
     Department during the two-year period preceding the survey.
       (e) Treatment of Contracts for Suicide Prevention and 
     Mental Health Outreach Media.--
       (1) Focus groups.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall include in each 
     contract to develop media relating to suicide prevention and 
     mental health materials and campaigns a requirement that the 
     contractor convene focus groups of veterans to assess the 
     effectiveness of suicide prevention and mental health 
     outreach.
       (B) Representation.--Each focus group required under 
     subparagraph (A) shall, to the extent practicable, include 
     veterans of diverse backgrounds, including--
       (i) veterans of all eras, as determined by the Secretary;
       (ii) women veterans;
       (iii) minority veterans;
       (iv) Native American veterans, as defined in section 3765 
     of title 38, United States Code;
       (v) veterans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, 
     transgender, or queer (commonly referred to as ``LGBTQ'');
       (vi) veterans who live in rural or highly rural areas;
       (vii) individuals transitioning from active duty in the 
     Armed Forces to civilian life; and
       (viii) other high-risk groups of veterans, as determined by 
     the Secretary.
       (2) Subcontracting.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall include in each 
     contract described in paragraph (1)(A) a requirement that, if 
     the contractor subcontracts for the development of media, the 
     contractor shall subcontract with a subcontractor that has 
     experience creating impactful media campaigns that target 
     individuals age 18 to 34.
       (B) Budget limitation.--Not more than two percent of the 
     budget of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention 
     of the Department for contractors for suicide prevention and 
     mental health media outreach shall go to subcontractors 
     described in subparagraph (A).
       (f) Paperwork Reduction Act Exemption.--Chapter 35 of title 
     44, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Paperwork 
     Reduction Act'') shall not apply to any rulemaking or 
     information collection required under this section.

[[Page S4970]]

       (g) Rural and Highly Rural Defined.--In this section, with 
     respect to an area, the terms ``rural'' and ``highly rural'' 
     have the meanings given those terms in the Rural-Urban 
     Commuting Areas coding system of the Department of 
     Agriculture.

     SEC. 402. OVERSIGHT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION 
                   MEDIA OUTREACH CONDUCTED BY DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Establishment of Goals.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     establish goals for the mental health and suicide prevention 
     media outreach campaigns of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs, which shall include the establishment of targets, 
     metrics, and action plans to describe and assess those 
     campaigns.
       (2) Use of metrics.--
       (A) In general.--The goals established under paragraph (1) 
     shall be measured by metrics specific to different media 
     types.
       (B) Factors to consider.--In using metrics under 
     subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall determine the best 
     methodological approach for each media type and shall 
     consider the following:
       (i) Metrics relating to social media, which may include the 
     following:

       (I) Impressions.
       (II) Reach.
       (III) Engagement rate.
       (IV) Such other metrics as the Secretary considers 
     necessary.

       (ii) Metrics relating to television, which may include the 
     following:

       (I) Nielsen ratings.
       (II) Such other metrics as the Secretary considers 
     necessary.

       (iii) Metrics relating to email, which may include the 
     following:

       (I) Open rate.
       (II) Response rate.
       (III) Click rate.
       (IV) Such other metrics as the Secretary considers 
     necessary.

       (C) Update.--The Secretary shall periodically update the 
     metrics under subparagraph (B) as more accurate metrics 
     become available.
       (3) Targets.--The Secretary shall establish targets to 
     track the metrics used under paragraph (2).
       (4) Consultation.--In establishing goals under paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary shall consult with the following:
       (A) Relevant stakeholders, such as organizations that 
     represent veterans, as determined by the Secretary.
       (B) Mental health and suicide prevention experts.
       (C) Such other persons as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (5) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
     the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report detailing the goals established 
     under paragraph (1) for the mental health and suicide 
     prevention media outreach campaigns of the Department, 
     including the metrics and targets for such metrics by which 
     those goals are to be measured under paragraphs (2) and (3).
       (6) Annual report.--Not later than one year after the 
     submittal of the report under paragraph (5), and annually 
     thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
     detailing--
       (A) the progress of the Department in meeting the goals 
     established under paragraph (1) and the targets established 
     under paragraph (3); and
       (B) a description of action to be taken by the Department 
     to modify mental health and suicide prevention media outreach 
     campaigns if those goals and targets are not being met.
       (b) Report on Use of Funds by Office of Mental Health and 
     Suicide Prevention.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, and semiannually thereafter, 
     the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations 
     and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing 
     the expenditures and obligations of the Office of Mental 
     Health and Suicide Prevention of the Veterans Health 
     Administration during the period covered by the report.

     SEC. 403. COMPTROLLER GENERAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW OF MENTAL 
                   HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES OF 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than three years 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 management review of the 
     mental health and suicide prevention services provided by the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Elements.--The management review required by subsection 
     (a) shall include the following:
       (1) An assessment of the infrastructure under the control 
     of or available to the Office of Mental Health and Suicide 
     Prevention of the Department of Veterans Affairs or available 
     to the Department of Veterans Affairs for suicide prevention 
     efforts not operated by the Office of Mental Health and 
     Suicide Prevention.
       (2) A description of the management and organizational 
     structure of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide 
     Prevention, including roles and responsibilities for each 
     position.
       (3) A description of the operational policies and processes 
     of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
       (4) An assessment of suicide prevention practices and 
     initiatives available from the Department and through 
     community partnerships.
       (5) An assessment of the staffing levels at the Office of 
     Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, disaggregated by type 
     of position, and including the location of any staffing 
     deficiencies.
       (6) An assessment of the Nurse Advice Line pilot program 
     conducted by the Department.
       (7) An assessment of recruitment initiatives in rural areas 
     for mental health professionals of the Department.
       (8) An assessment of strategic planning conducted by the 
     Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
       (9) An assessment of the communication, and the 
     effectiveness of such communication--
       (A) within the central office of the Office of Mental 
     Health and Suicide Prevention;
       (B) between that central office and any staff member or 
     office in the field, including chaplains, attorneys, law 
     enforcement personnel, and volunteers; and
       (C) between that central office, local facilities of the 
     Department, and community partners of the Department, 
     including first responders, community support groups, and 
     health care industry partners.
       (10) An assessment of how effectively the Office of Mental 
     Health and Suicide Prevention implements operational policies 
     and procedures.
       (11) An assessment of how the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs and the Department of Defense coordinate suicide 
     prevention efforts, and recommendations on how the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense can more 
     effectively coordinate those efforts.
       (12) An assessment of such other areas as the Comptroller 
     General considers appropriate to study.

     SEC. 404. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON EFFORTS OF DEPARTMENT 
                   OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INTEGRATE MENTAL HEALTH 
                   CARE INTO PRIMARY CARE CLINICS.

       (a) Initial Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than two years 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 efforts of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs to integrate mental health 
     care into primary care clinics of the Department.
       (2) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) An assessment of the efforts of the Department to 
     integrate mental health care into primary care clinics of the 
     Department.
       (B) An assessment of the effectiveness of such efforts.
       (C) An assessment of how the health care of veterans is 
     impacted by such integration.
       (D) A description of how care is coordinated by the 
     Department between specialty mental health care and primary 
     care, including a description of the following:
       (i) How documents and patient information are transferred 
     and the effectiveness of those transfers.
       (ii) How care is coordinated when veterans must travel to 
     different facilities of the Department.
       (iii) How a veteran is reintegrated into primary care after 
     receiving in-patient mental health care.
       (E) An assessment of how the integration of mental health 
     care into primary care clinics is implemented at different 
     types of facilities of the Department.
       (F) Such recommendations on how the Department can better 
     integrate mental health care into primary care clinics as the 
     Comptroller General considers appropriate.
       (G) An assessment of such other areas as the Comptroller 
     General considers appropriate to study.
       (b) Community Care Integration Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date on 
     which the Comptroller General submits the report required 
     under subsection (a)(1), the Comptroller General 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 efforts of the Department to 
     integrate community-based mental health care into the 
     Veterans Health Administration.
       (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) An assessment of the efforts of the Department to 
     integrate community-based mental health care into the 
     Veterans Health Administration.
       (B) An assessment of the effectiveness of such efforts.
       (C) An assessment of how the health care of veterans is 
     impacted by such integration.
       (D) A description of how care is coordinated between 
     providers of community-based mental health care and the 
     Veterans Health Administration, including a description of 
     how documents and patient information are

[[Page S4971]]

     transferred and the effectiveness of those transfers 
     between--
       (i) the Veterans Health Administration and providers of 
     community-based mental health care; and
       (ii) providers of community-based mental health care and 
     the Veterans Health Administration.
       (E) An assessment of any disparities in the coordination of 
     community-based mental health care into the Veterans Health 
     Administration by location and type of facility.
       (F) An assessment of the military cultural competency of 
     health care providers providing community-based mental health 
     care to veterans.
       (G) Such recommendations on how the Department can better 
     integrate community-based mental health care into the 
     Veterans Health Administration as the Comptroller General 
     considers appropriate.
       (H) An assessment of such other areas as the Comptroller 
     General considers appropriate to study.
       (3) Community-based mental health care defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``community-based mental health care'' 
     means mental health care paid for by the Department but 
     provided by a non-Department health care provider at a non-
     Department facility, including care furnished under section 
     1703 of title 38, United States Code (as in effect on the 
     date specified in section 101(b) of the Caring for Our 
     Veterans Act of 2018 (title I of Public Law 115-182)).

     SEC. 405. JOINT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS BY DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

       (a) Report on Mental Health Programs.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
     Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of 
     the House of Representatives a report on mental health 
     programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Department of Defense and joint programs of the Departments.
       (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) A description of mental health programs operated by the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, including the following:
       (i) Transition assistance programs.
       (ii) Clinical and non-clinical mental health initiatives, 
     including centers of excellence of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs for traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress 
     disorder.
       (iii) Programs that may secondarily improve mental health, 
     including employment, housing assistance, and financial 
     literacy programs.
       (iv) Research into mental health issues and conditions, to 
     include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, 
     bipolar disorder, traumatic brain injury, suicidal ideation, 
     and any other issues or conditions as the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs considers necessary.
       (B) A description of mental health programs operated by the 
     Department of Defense, including the following:
       (i) Transition assistance programs.
       (ii) Clinical and non-clinical mental health initiatives, 
     including the National Intrepid Center of Excellence and the 
     Intrepid Spirit Centers.
       (iii) Programs that may secondarily improve mental health, 
     including employment, housing assistance, and financial 
     literacy programs.
       (iv) Research into mental health issues and conditions, to 
     include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, 
     bipolar disorder, traumatic brain injury, suicidal ideation, 
     and any other issues or conditions as the Secretary of 
     Defense considers necessary.
       (C) A description of mental health programs jointly 
     operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Department of Defense, including the following:
       (i) Transition assistance programs.
       (ii) Clinical and non-clinical mental health initiatives.
       (iii) Programs that may secondarily improve mental health, 
     including employment, housing assistance, and financial 
     literacy programs.
       (iv) Research into mental health issues and conditions, to 
     include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, 
     bipolar disorder, traumatic brain injury, suicidal ideation, 
     and completed suicides, including through the use of the 
     joint suicide data repository of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs and the Department of Defense, and any other issues 
     or conditions as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Secretary of Defense consider necessary.
       (D) Recommendations for coordinating mental health programs 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of 
     Defense to improve the effectiveness of those programs.
       (E) Recommendations for novel joint programming of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense 
     to improve the mental health of members of the Armed Forces 
     and veterans.
       (b) Evaluation of Collaborative Efforts of Department of 
     Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense and Alternatives 
     of Analysis to Establish a Joint VA/DOD Intrepid Spirit 
     Center.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall evaluate 
     the current ongoing collaborative efforts of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense related to 
     post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury 
     care, research, and education to improve the quality of and 
     access to such care and seek potential new collaborative 
     efforts to improve and expand such care for veterans and 
     members of the Armed Forces in a joint Department of Veterans 
     Affairs/Department of Defense Intrepid Spirit Center that 
     serves active duty members of the Armed Forces, members of 
     the reserve components of the Armed Forces, and veterans for 
     mutual benefit and growth in treatment and care.
       (2) Alternatives of analysis.--
       (A) In general.--The evaluation required under paragraph 
     (1) shall include an alternatives of analysis to establish 
     the joint Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of 
     Defense Intrepid Spirit Center described in paragraph (1).
       (B) Elements.--The alternatives of analysis required under 
     subparagraph (A) with respect to the establishment of the 
     joint Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense 
     Intrepid Spirit Center described in paragraph (1) shall 
     provide alternatives and recommendations that consider 
     information including--
       (i) colocation of the center on an installation of the 
     Department of Defense or property of a medical center of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs;
       (ii) consideration of a rural or highly rural area to 
     establish the center that may include colocation described in 
     clause (i);
       (iii) geographic distance from existing or planned Intrepid 
     Spirit Centers of the Department of Defense or other such 
     facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the 
     Department of Defense that furnish care for post-traumatic 
     stress disorder or traumatic brain injury; and
       (iv) the potential role for private entities and 
     philanthropic organizations in carrying out the activities of 
     the center.
       (3) Report to congress.--Not later than 270 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     House of Representatives a report that includes--
       (A) a summary of the evaluation required under paragraph 
     (1); and
       (B) the alternatives of analysis required under paragraph 
     (2).
       (4) Rural and highly rural defined.--In this subsection, 
     with respect to an area, the terms ``rural'' and ``highly 
     rural'' have the meanings given those terms in the Rural-
     Urban Commuting Areas coding system of the Department of 
     Agriculture.

        TITLE V--IMPROVEMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH MEDICAL WORKFORCE

     SEC. 501. STAFFING IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR MENTAL HEALTH 
                   PROVIDERS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Staffing Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
     in consultation with the Inspector General of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs, shall submit to the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a plan to 
     address staffing of mental health providers of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs, including filling any open positions.
       (2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) An estimate of the number of positions for mental 
     health providers of the Department that need to be filled to 
     meet demand.
       (B) An identification of the steps that the Secretary will 
     take to address mental health staffing for the Department.
       (C) A description of any region-specific hiring incentives 
     to be used by the Secretary in consultation with the 
     directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks and medical 
     centers of the Department.
       (D) A description of any local retention or engagement 
     incentives to be used by directors of Veterans Integrated 
     Service Networks.
       (E) Such recommendations for legislative or administrative 
     action as the Secretary considers necessary to aid in 
     addressing mental health staffing for the Department.
       (3) Report.--Not later than one year after the submittal of 
     the plan required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
     submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 
     and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report setting forth the number of mental 
     health providers hired by the Department during the one-year 
     period preceding the submittal of the report.
       (b) Occupational Series for Certain Mental Health 
     Providers.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
     consultation with the Office of Personnel Management, shall 
     develop an occupational series for licensed professional 
     mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

     SEC. 502. ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 76 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after subchapter VIII the 
     following new subchapter:

[[Page S4972]]

  


  ``SUBCHAPTER IX--READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

     ``Sec. 7698. Requirement for program

       ``As part of the Educational Assistance Program, the 
     Secretary shall carry out a scholarship program under this 
     subchapter. The program shall be known as the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Readjustment Counseling Service Scholarship 
     Program (in this subchapter referred to as the `Program').

     ``Sec. 7699. Eligibility; agreement

       ``(a) In General.--An individual is eligible to participate 
     in the Program, as determined by the Readjustment Counseling 
     Service of the Department, if the individual--
       ``(1) is accepted for enrollment or enrolled (as described 
     in section 7602 of this title) in a program of study at an 
     accredited educational institution, school, or training 
     program leading to a terminal degree in psychology, social 
     work, marriage and family therapy, or mental health 
     counseling that would meet the education requirements for 
     appointment to a position under section 7402(b) of this 
     title; and
       ``(2) enters into an agreement with the Secretary under 
     subsection (c).
       ``(b) Priority.--In selecting individuals to participate in 
     the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to the 
     following individuals:
       ``(1) An individual who agrees to be employed by a Vet 
     Center located in a community that is--
       ``(A) designated as a medically underserved population 
     under section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)); and
       ``(B) in a State with a per capita population of veterans 
     of more than five percent according to the National Center 
     for Veterans Analysis and Statistics and the Bureau of the 
     Census.
       ``(2) An individual who is a veteran.
       ``(c) Agreement.--An agreement between the Secretary and a 
     participant in the Program shall (in addition to the 
     requirements set forth in section 7604 of this title) include 
     the following:
       ``(1) An agreement by the Secretary to provide the 
     participant with a scholarship under the Program for a 
     specified number of school years during which the participant 
     pursues a program of study described in subsection (a)(1) 
     that meets the requirements set forth in section 7602(a) of 
     this title.
       ``(2) An agreement by the participant to serve as a full-
     time employee of the Department at a Vet Center for a six-
     year period following the completion by the participant of 
     such program of study (in this subchapter referred to as the 
     `period of obligated service').
       ``(d) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term `Vet 
     Center' has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) 
     of this title.

     ``Sec. 7699A. Obligated service

       ``(a) In General.--Each participant in the Program shall 
     provide service as a full-time employee of the Department at 
     a Vet Center (as defined in section 7699(d) of this title) 
     for the period of obligated service set forth in the 
     agreement of the participant entered into under section 7604 
     of this title.
       ``(b) Determination of Service Commencement Date.--(1) Not 
     later than 60 days before the service commencement date of a 
     participant, the Secretary shall notify the participant of 
     that service commencement date.
       ``(2) The date specified in paragraph (1) with respect to a 
     participant is the date for the beginning of the period of 
     obligated service of the participant.

     ``Sec. 7699B. Breach of agreement: liability

       ``(a) Liquidated Damages.--(1) A participant in the Program 
     (other than a participant described in subsection (b)) who 
     fails to accept payment, or instructs the educational 
     institution in which the participant is enrolled not to 
     accept payment, in whole or in part, of a scholarship under 
     the agreement entered into under section 7604 of this title 
     shall be liable to the United States for liquidated damages 
     in the amount of $1,500.
       ``(2) Liability under paragraph (1) is in addition to any 
     period of obligated service or other obligation or liability 
     under such agreement.
       ``(b) Liability During Program of Study.--(1) Except as 
     provided in subsection (d), a participant in the Program 
     shall be liable to the United States for the amount which has 
     been paid to or on behalf of the participant under the 
     agreement if any of the following occurs:
       ``(A) The participant fails to maintain an acceptable level 
     of academic standing in the educational institution in which 
     the participant is enrolled (as determined by the educational 
     institution under regulations prescribed by the Secretary).
       ``(B) The participant is dismissed from such educational 
     institution for disciplinary reasons.
       ``(C) The participant voluntarily terminates the program of 
     study in such educational institution before the completion 
     of such program of study.
       ``(2) Liability under this subsection is in lieu of any 
     service obligation arising under the agreement.
       ``(c) Liability During Period of Obligated Service.--(1) 
     Except as provided in subsection (d), if a participant in the 
     Program does not complete the period of obligated service of 
     the participant, the United States shall be entitled to 
     recover from the participant an amount determined in 
     accordance with the following formula: A = 3F(t-s/t).
       ``(2) In the formula in paragraph (1):
       ``(A) `A' is the amount the United States is entitled to 
     recover.
       ``(B) `F' is the sum of--
       ``(i) the amounts paid under this subchapter to or on 
     behalf of the participant; and
       ``(ii) the interest on such amounts which would be payable 
     if at the time the amounts were paid they were loans bearing 
     interest at the maximum legal prevailing rate, as determined 
     by the Treasurer of the United States.
       ``(C) `t' is the total number of months in the period of 
     obligated service of the participant.
       ``(D) `s' is the number of months of such period served by 
     the participant.
       ``(d) Limitation on Liability for Reductions-in-force.--
     Liability shall not arise under subsection (c) if the 
     participant fails to maintain employment as a Department 
     employee due to a staffing adjustment.
       ``(e) Period for Payment of Damages.--Any amount of damages 
     that the United States is entitled to recover under this 
     section shall be paid to the United States within the one-
     year period beginning on the date of the breach of the 
     agreement.''.
       (b) Conforming and Technical Amendments.--
       (1) Conforming amendments.--
       (A) Establishment of program.--Section 7601(a) of such 
     title is amended--
       (i) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'';
       (ii) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(7) the readjustment counseling service scholarship 
     program provided for in subchapter IX of this chapter.''.
       (B) Eligibility.--Section 7602 of such title is amended--
       (i) in subsection (a)(1)--

       (I) by striking ``or VI'' and inserting ``VI, or IX''; and
       (II) by striking ``subchapter VI'' and inserting 
     ``subchapter VI or IX''; and

       (ii) in subsection (b), by striking ``or VI'' and inserting 
     ``VI, or IX''.
       (C) Application.--Section 7603(a)(1) of such title is 
     amended by striking ``or VIII'' and inserting ``VIII, or 
     IX''.
       (D) Terms of agreement.--Section 7604 of such title is 
     amended by striking ``or VIII'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``VIII, or IX''.
       (E) Annual report.--Section 7632 of such title is amended--
       (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and the Specialty 
     Education Loan Repayment Program'' and inserting ``the 
     Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program, and the 
     Readjustment Counseling Service Scholarship Program''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and per participant in 
     the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program'' and 
     inserting ``per participant in the Specialty Education Loan 
     Repayment Program, and per participant in the Readjustment 
     Counseling Service Scholarship Program''.
       (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 76 of such title is amended by inserting 
     after the items relating to subchapter VIII the following:

  ``subchapter ix--readjustment counseling service scholarship program

``Sec.
``7698. Requirement for program.
``7699. Eligibility; agreement.
``7699A. Obligated service.
``7699B. Breach of agreement: liability.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall begin awarding scholarships under subchapter IX of 
     chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a), for programs of study beginning not later 
     than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 503. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON READJUSTMENT 
                   COUNSELING SERVICE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--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 Readjustment 
     Counseling Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) An assessment of the adequacy and types of treatment, 
     counseling, and other services provided at Vet Centers, 
     including recommendations on whether and how such treatment, 
     counseling, and other services can be expanded.
       (2) An assessment of the efficacy of outreach efforts by 
     the Readjustment Counseling Service, including 
     recommendations for how outreach efforts can be improved.
       (3) An assessment of barriers to care at Vet Centers, 
     including recommendations for overcoming those barriers.
       (4) An assessment of the efficacy and frequency of the use 
     of telehealth by counselors of the Readjustment Counseling 
     Service to provide mental health services, including 
     recommendations for how the use of telehealth can be 
     improved.
       (5) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of 
     expanding eligibility for services from the Readjustment 
     Counseling Service, including--

[[Page S4973]]

       (A) recommendations on what eligibility criteria could be 
     expanded; and
       (B) an assessment of potential costs and increased 
     infrastructure requirements if eligibility is expanded.
       (6) An assessment of the use of Vet Centers by members of 
     the reserve components of the Armed Forces who were never 
     activated and recommendations on how to better reach those 
     members.
       (7) An assessment of the use of Vet Centers by eligible 
     family members of former members of the Armed Forces and 
     recommendations on how to better reach those family members.
       (8) An assessment of the efficacy of group therapy and the 
     level of training of providers at Vet Centers in 
     administering group therapy.
       (9) An assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of 
     the task organization structure of Vet Centers.
       (10) An assessment of the use of Vet Centers by Native 
     American veterans, as defined in section 3765 of title 38, 
     United States Code, and recommendations on how to better 
     reach those veterans.
       (c) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term ``Vet 
     Center'' has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) 
     of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 504. EXPANSION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ON READJUSTMENT 
                   COUNSELING SERVICE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) Expansion of Annual Report.--Paragraph (2)(C) of 
     section 7309(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``, 
     including the resources required to meet such unmet need, 
     such as additional staff, additional locations, additional 
     infrastructure, infrastructure improvements, and additional 
     mobile Vet Centers''.
       (b) Biennial Report.--Such section is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) For each even numbered year in which the report 
     required by paragraph (1) is submitted, the Secretary shall 
     include in such report a prediction of--
       ``(A) trends in demand for care;
       ``(B) long-term investments required with respect to the 
     provision of care;
       ``(C) requirements relating to maintenance of 
     infrastructure; and
       ``(D) other capital investment requirements with respect to 
     the Readjustment Counseling Service, including Vet Centers, 
     mobile Vet Centers, and community access points.''.

     SEC. 505. BRIEFING ON ALTERNATIVE WORK SCHEDULES FOR 
                   EMPLOYEES OF VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Survey of Veterans.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall conduct a survey on the attitudes of eligible veterans 
     toward the Department of Veterans Affairs offering 
     appointments outside the usual operating hours of facilities 
     of the Department, including through the use of telehealth 
     appointments.
       (2) Eligible veteran defined.--In this subsection, the term 
     ``eligible veteran'' means a veteran who--
       (A) is enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the 
     Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States 
     Code; and
       (B) received health care from the Department at least once 
     during the two-year period ending on the date of the 
     commencement of the survey under paragraph (1).
       (b) Congressional Briefing.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall brief the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives on the--
       (A) feasibility and advisability of offering appointments 
     outside the usual operating hours of facilities of the 
     Department that do not offer such appointments; and
       (B) effectiveness of offering appointments outside the 
     usual operating hours of facilities of the Department for 
     those facilities that offer such appointments.
       (2) Elements.--The briefing required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) The findings of the survey conducted under subsection 
     (a);
       (B) Feedback from employees of the Veterans Health 
     Administration, including clinical, nonclinical, and support 
     staff, with respect to offering appointments outside the 
     usual operating hours of facilities of the Department, 
     including through the use of telehealth appointments; and
       (C) Any other matters the Secretary considers relevant to a 
     full understanding of the feasibility and advisability of 
     offering appointments outside the usual operating hours of 
     facilities of the Department.
       (c) Paperwork Reduction Act Exemption.--Chapter 35 of title 
     44, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Paperwork 
     Reduction Act'') shall not apply to any rulemaking or 
     information collection required under this section.

     SEC. 506. SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATORS.

       (a) Staffing Requirement.--Beginning not later than one 
     year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that each medical 
     center of the Department of Veterans Affairs has not less 
     than one suicide prevention coordinator.
       (b) Study on Reorganization.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation 
     with the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention of 
     the Department, shall commence the conduct of a study to 
     determine the feasibility and advisability of--
       (A) the realignment and reorganization of suicide 
     prevention coordinators within the Office of Mental Health 
     and Suicide Prevention; and
       (B) the creation of a suicide prevention coordinator 
     program office.
       (2) Program office realignment.--In conducting the study 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall assess the 
     feasibility of advisability of, within the suicide prevention 
     coordinator program office described in paragraph (1)(B), 
     aligning suicide prevention coordinators and suicide 
     prevention case managers within the organizational structure 
     and chart of the Suicide Prevention Program of the 
     Department, with the Director of the Suicide Prevention 
     program having ultimate supervisory oversight and 
     responsibility over the suicide prevention coordinator 
     program office.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of 
     the study under subsection (b), the Secretary 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 such study, including the 
     following:
       (1) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of 
     creating a suicide prevention coordinator program office to 
     oversee and monitor suicide prevention coordinators and 
     suicide prevention case managers across all medical centers 
     of the Department.
       (2) A review of current staffing ratios for suicide 
     prevention coordinators and suicide prevention case managers 
     in comparison with current staffing ratios for mental health 
     providers within each medical center of the Department.
       (3) A description of the duties and responsibilities for 
     suicide prevention coordinators across the Department to 
     better define, delineate, and standardize qualifications, 
     performance goals, performance duties, and performance 
     outcomes for suicide prevention coordinators and suicide 
     prevention case managers.

     SEC. 507. REPORT ON EFFORTS BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   TO IMPLEMENT SAFETY PLANNING IN EMERGENCY 
                   DEPARTMENTS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Department of Veterans Affairs must be more 
     effective in its approach to reducing the burden of veteran 
     suicide connected to mental health diagnoses, to include 
     expansion of treatment delivered via telehealth methods and 
     in rural areas.
       (2) An innovative project, known as Suicide Assessment and 
     Follow-up Engagement: Veteran Emergency Treatment (in this 
     subsection referred to as ``SAFE VET''), was designed to help 
     suicidal veterans seen at emergency departments within the 
     Veterans Health Administration and was successfully 
     implemented in five intervention sites beginning in 2010.
       (3) A 2018 study found that safety planning intervention 
     under SAFE VET was associated with 45 percent fewer suicidal 
     behaviors in the six-month period following emergency 
     department care and more than double the odds of a veteran 
     engaging in outpatient behavioral health care.
       (4) SAFE VET is a promising alternative and acceptable 
     delivery of care system that augments the treatment of 
     suicidal veterans in emergency departments of the Veterans 
     Health Administration and helps ensure that those veterans 
     have appropriate follow-up care.
       (5) Beginning in September 2018, the Veterans Health 
     Administration implemented a suicide prevention program, 
     known as the SPED program, for veterans presenting to the 
     emergency department who are assessed to be at risk for 
     suicide and are safe to be discharged home.
       (6) The SPED program includes issuance and update of a 
     safety plan and post-discharge follow-up outreach for 
     veterans to facilitate engagement in outpatient mental health 
     care.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days 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 the efforts of the Secretary to implement a suicide 
     prevention program for veterans presenting to an emergency 
     department or urgent care center of the Veterans Health 
     Administration who are assessed to be at risk for suicide and 
     are safe to be discharged home, including a safety plan and 
     post-discharge outreach for veterans to facilitate engagement 
     in outpatient mental health care.
       (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) An assessment of the implementation of the current 
     operational policies and procedures of the SPED program at 
     each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
     including an assessment of the following:
       (i) Training provided to clinicians or other personnel 
     administering protocols under the SPED program.
       (ii) Any disparities in implementation of such protocols 
     between medical centers.
       (iii) Current criteria used to measure the quality of such 
     protocols including--

[[Page S4974]]

       (I) methodology used to assess the quality of a safety plan 
     and post-discharge outreach for veterans; or
       (II) in the absence of such methodology, a proposed 
     timeline and guidelines for creating a methodology to ensure 
     compliance with the evidence-based model used under the 
     Suicide Assessment and Follow-up Engagement: Veteran 
     Emergency Treatment (SAFE VET) program of the Department.

       (B) An assessment of the implementation of the policies and 
     procedures described in subparagraph (A), including the 
     following:
       (i) An assessment of the quality and quantity of safety 
     plans issued to veterans.
       (ii) An assessment of the quality and quantity of post-
     discharge outreach provided to veterans.
       (iii) The post-discharge rate of veteran engagement in 
     outpatient mental health care, including attendance at not 
     fewer than one individual mental health clinic appointment or 
     admission to an inpatient or residential unit.
       (iv) The number of veterans who decline safety planning 
     efforts during protocols under the SPED program.
       (v) The number of veterans who decline to participate in 
     follow-up efforts within the SPED program.
       (C) A description of how SPED primary coordinators are 
     deployed to support such efforts, including the following:
       (i) A description of the duties and responsibilities of 
     such coordinators.
       (ii) The number and location of such coordinators.
       (iii) A description of training provided to such 
     coordinators.
       (iv) An assessment of the other responsibilities for such 
     coordinators and, if applicable, differences in patient 
     outcomes when such responsibilities are full-time duties as 
     opposed to secondary duties.
       (D) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of 
     expanding the total number and geographic distribution of 
     SPED primary coordinators.
       (E) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of 
     providing services under the SPED program via telehealth 
     channels, including an analysis of opportunities to leverage 
     telehealth to better serve veterans in rural areas.
       (F) A description of the status of current capabilities and 
     utilization of tracking mechanisms to monitor compliance, 
     quality, and patient outcomes under the SPED program.
       (G) Such recommendations, including specific action items, 
     as the Secretary considers appropriate with respect to how 
     the Department can better implement the SPED program, 
     including recommendations with respect to the following:
       (i) A process to standardize training under such program.
       (ii) Any resourcing requirements necessary to implement the 
     SPED program throughout Veterans Health Administration, 
     including by having a dedicated clinician responsible for 
     administration of such program at each medical center.
       (iii) An analysis of current statutory authority and any 
     changes necessary to fully implement the SPED program 
     throughout the Veterans Health Administration.
       (iv) A timeline for the implementation of the SPED program 
     through the Veterans Health Administration once full 
     resourcing and an approved training plan are in place.
       (H) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Subcommittee 
     on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related 
     Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
     and
       (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Subcommittee 
     on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related 
     Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (2) SPED primary coordinator.--The term ``SPED primary 
     coordinator'' means the main point of contact responsible for 
     administering the SPED program at a medical center of the 
     Department.
       (3) SPED program.--The term ``SPED program'' means the 
     Safety Planning in Emergency Departments program of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs established in September 2018 
     for veterans presenting to the emergency department who are 
     assessed to be at risk for suicide and are safe to be 
     discharged home, which extends the evidence-based 
     intervention for suicide prevention to all emergency 
     departments of the Veterans Health Administration.

     TITLE VI--IMPROVEMENT OF CARE AND SERVICES FOR WOMEN VETERANS

     SEC. 601. EXPANSION OF CAPABILITIES OF WOMEN VETERANS CALL 
                   CENTER TO INCLUDE TEXT MESSAGING.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall expand the 
     capabilities of the Women Veterans Call Center of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs to include a text messaging 
     capability.

     SEC. 602. REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   INTERNET WEBSITE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON 
                   SERVICES AVAILABLE TO WOMEN VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     survey the internet websites and information resources of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs in effect on the day before 
     the date of the enactment of this Act and publish an internet 
     website that serves as a centralized source for the provision 
     to women veterans of information about the benefits and 
     services available to them under laws administered by the 
     Secretary.
       (b) Elements.--The internet website published under 
     subsection (a) shall provide to women veterans information 
     regarding all services available in the district in which the 
     veteran is seeking such services, including, with respect to 
     each medical center and community-based outpatient clinic in 
     the applicable Veterans Integrated Service Network--
       (1) the name and contact information of each women's health 
     coordinator;
       (2) a list of appropriate staff for other benefits 
     available from the Veterans Benefits Administration, the 
     National Cemetery Administration, and such other entities as 
     the Secretary considers appropriate; and
       (3) such other information as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (c) Updated Information.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
     the information described in subsection (b) that is published 
     on the internet website required by subsection (a) is updated 
     not less frequently than once every 90 days.
       (d) Outreach.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
     shall ensure that the outreach conducted under section 
     1720F(i) of title 38, United States Code, includes 
     information regarding the internet website required by 
     subsection (a).
       (e) Derivation of Funds.--Amounts used by the Secretary to 
     carry out this section shall be derived from amounts made 
     available to the Secretary to publish internet websites of 
     the Department.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 701. EXPANDED TELEHEALTH FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     enter into agreements, and expand existing agreements, with 
     organizations that represent or serve veterans, nonprofit 
     organizations, private businesses, and other interested 
     parties for the expansion of telehealth capabilities and the 
     provision of telehealth services to veterans through the 
     award of grants under subsection (b).
       (b) Award of Grants.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out agreements entered into or 
     expanded under this section with entities described in 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall award grants to those 
     entities.
       (2) Locations.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary 
     shall ensure that grants are awarded to entities that serve 
     veterans in rural and highly rural areas (as determined 
     through the use of the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding 
     system of the Department of Agriculture) or areas determined 
     to be medically underserved.
       (3) Use of grants.--
       (A) In general.--Grants awarded to an entity under this 
     subsection may be used for one or more of the following:
       (i) Purchasing, replacing or upgrading hardware or software 
     necessary for the provision of secure and private telehealth 
     services.
       (ii) Upgrading security protocols for consistency with the 
     security requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (iii) Training of site attendants, including payment of 
     those attendants for completing that training, with respect 
     to--

       (I) military and veteran cultural competence, if the entity 
     is not an organization that represents veterans;
       (II) equipment required to provide telehealth services;
       (III) privacy, including the Health Insurance Portability 
     and Accountability Act of 1996 privacy rule under part 160 
     and subparts A and E of part 164 of title 45, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, or successor regulations, as it relates to 
     health care for veterans;
       (IV) scheduling for telehealth services for veterans; or
       (V) any other unique training needs for the provision of 
     telehealth services to veterans.

       (iv) Upgrading existing infrastructure owned or leased by 
     the entity to make rooms more conducive to telehealth care, 
     including--

       (I) additions or modifications to windows or walls in an 
     existing room, or other alterations as needed to create a 
     new, private room, including permits or inspections required 
     in association with space modifications;
       (II) soundproofing of an existing room;
       (III) new electrical, telephone, or internet outlets in an 
     existing room; or
       (IV) aesthetic enhancements to establish a more suitable 
     therapeutic environment.

       (v) Upgrading existing infrastructure to comply with the 
     Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et 
     seq.).
       (vi) Upgrading internet infrastructure and sustainment of 
     internet services.
       (vii) Sustainment of telephone services.
       (B) Exclusion.--Grants may not be used for the purchase of 
     new property or for major construction projects, as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       (c) Agreement on Telehealth Access Points.--
       (1) In general.--An entity described in subsection (a) that 
     seeks to establish a telehealth access point for veterans but 
     does not require grant funding under this section to

[[Page S4975]]

     do so may enter into an agreement with the Department for the 
     establishment of such an access point.
       (2) Adequacy of facilities.--An entity described in 
     paragraph (1) shall be responsible for ensuring that any 
     access point is adequately private, secure, clean, and 
     accessible for veterans before the access point is 
     established.
       (d) Assessment of Barriers to Access.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an 
     assessment of barriers faced by veterans in accessing 
     telehealth services.
       (2) Elements.--The assessment required by paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following:
       (A) A description of the barriers veterans face in using 
     telehealth while not on property of the Department.
       (B) A description of how the Department plans to address 
     the barriers described in subparagraph (A).
       (C) Such other matters related to access by veterans to 
     telehealth while not on property of the Department as the 
     Secretary considers relevant.
       (3) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the completion 
     of the assessment required by paragraph (1), the Secretary 
     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 assessment, including any 
     recommendations for legislative or administrative action 
     based on the results of the assessment.

     SEC. 702. PARTNERSHIPS WITH NON-FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES 
                   TO PROVIDE HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY TO 
                   VETERANS AND STUDIES ON THE USE OF SUCH THERAPY 
                   FOR TREATMENT OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER 
                   AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

       (a) Partnerships to Provide Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to 
     Veterans.--
       (1) Use of partnerships.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs, in consultation with the Center for Compassionate 
     Innovation within the Office of Community Engagement of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, may enter into partnerships 
     with non-Federal Government entities to provide hyperbaric 
     oxygen treatment to veterans to research the effectiveness of 
     such therapy.
       (2) Types of partnerships.--Partnerships entered into under 
     paragraph (1) may include the following:
       (A) Partnerships to conduct research on hyperbaric oxygen 
     therapy.
       (B) Partnerships to review research on hyperbaric oxygen 
     therapy provided to nonveterans.
       (C) Partnerships to create industry working groups to 
     determine standards for research on hyperbaric oxygen 
     therapy.
       (D) Partnerships to provide to veterans hyperbaric oxygen 
     therapy for the purposes of conducting research on the 
     effectiveness of such therapy.
       (3) Limitation on federal funding.--Federal Government 
     funding may be used to coordinate and administer the 
     partnerships under this subsection but may not be used to 
     carry out activities conducted under such partnerships.
       (b) Review of Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.--
     Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Center for 
     Compassionate Innovation, shall begin using an objective and 
     quantifiable method to review the effectiveness and 
     applicability of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, such as through 
     the use of a device approved or cleared by the Food and Drug 
     Administration that assesses traumatic brain injury by 
     tracking eye movement.
       (c) Systematic Review of Use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 
     to Treat Certain Conditions.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation 
     with the Center for Compassionate Innovation, shall commence 
     the conduct of a systematic review of published research 
     literature on off-label use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to 
     treat post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain 
     injury among veterans and nonveterans.
       (2) Elements.--The review conducted under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following:
       (A) An assessment of the current parameters for research on 
     the use by the Department of Veterans Affairs of hyperbaric 
     oxygen therapy, including--
       (i) tests and questionnaires used to determine the efficacy 
     of such therapy; and
       (ii) metrics for determining the success of such therapy.
       (B) A comparative analysis of tests and questionnaires used 
     to study post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain 
     injury in other research conducted by the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, other Federal agencies, and entities 
     outside the Federal Government.
       (3) Completion of review.--The review conducted under 
     paragraph (1) shall be completed not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the commencement of the review.
       (4) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of 
     the review conducted under paragraph (1), the Secretary 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 results of the review.
       (d) Follow-up Study.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the 
     completion of the review conducted under subsection (c), the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the Center for Compassionate 
     Innovation, shall commence the conduct of a study on all 
     individuals receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy through the 
     current pilot program of the Department for the provision of 
     hyperbaric oxygen therapy to veterans to determine the 
     efficacy and effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for 
     the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic 
     brain injury.
       (2) Elements.--The study conducted under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the review and publication of any data and 
     conclusions resulting from research conducted by an 
     authorized provider of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans 
     through the pilot program described in such paragraph.
       (3) Completion of study.--The study conducted under 
     paragraph (1) shall be completed not later than three years 
     after the date of the commencement of the study.
       (4) Report.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after completing 
     the study conducted under paragraph (1), the Secretary 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 results of the study.
       (B) Elements.--The report required under subparagraph (A) 
     shall include the recommendation of the Secretary with 
     respect to whether or not hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be 
     made available to all veterans with traumatic brain injury or 
     post-traumatic stress disorder.

     SEC. 703. PRESCRIPTION OF TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR 
                   LICENSED HEARING AID SPECIALISTS AND 
                   REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT OF SUCH 
                   SPECIALISTS.

       (a) Technical Qualifications.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall prescribe the technical qualifications required under 
     section 7402(b)(14) of title 38, United States Code, to be 
     appointed as a licensed hearing aid specialist under section 
     7401(3) of such title.
       (2) Elements for qualifications.--In prescribing the 
     qualifications for licensed hearing aid specialists under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, at a minimum, ensure that 
     such qualifications are consistent with--
       (A) the standards for licensure of hearing aid specialists 
     that are required by a majority of States;
       (B) any competencies needed to perform tasks and services 
     commonly performed by hearing aid specialists pursuant to 
     such standards; and
       (C) any competencies needed to perform tasks specific to 
     providing care to individuals under the laws administered by 
     the Secretary.
       (b) Authority to Set and Maintain Duties.--The Secretary 
     shall retain the authority to set and maintain the duties for 
     licensed hearing aid specialists appointed under section 
     7401(3) of title 38, United States Code, for the purposes of 
     the employment of such specialists with the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs.
       (c) Appointment.--Not later than September 30, 2022, the 
     Secretary shall appoint not fewer than one licensed hearing 
     aid specialist at each medical center of the Department.
       (d) Report.--Not later than September 30, 2022, and 
     annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report--
       (1) assessing the progress of the Secretary in appointing 
     licensed hearing aid specialists under subsection (c);
       (2) assessing potential conflicts or obstacles that prevent 
     the appointment of licensed hearing aid specialists;
       (3) assessing the factors that led to such conflicts or 
     obstacles;
       (4) assessing access of patients to comprehensive hearing 
     health care services from the Department consistent with the 
     requirements under section 4(b) of the Veterans Mobility 
     Safety Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-256; 38 U.S.C. 7401 note), 
     including an assessment of the impact of infrastructure and 
     equipment limitations on wait times for audiologic care; and
       (5) indicating the medical centers of the Department with 
     vacancies for audiologists or licensed hearing aid 
     specialists.

     SEC. 704. USE BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF COMMERCIAL 
                   INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARDS IN SPONSORED 
                   RESEARCH TRIALS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall complete all necessary policy revisions within the 
     directive of the Veterans Health Administration numbered 
     1200.05 and titled ``Requirements for the Protection of Human 
     Subjects in Research'', to allow sponsored clinical research 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs to use accredited 
     commercial institutional review boards to review research 
     proposal protocols of the Department.
       (b) Identification of Review Boards.--Not later than 90 
     days after the completion of the policy revisions under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
       (1) identify accredited commercial institutional review 
     boards for use in connection with sponsored clinical research 
     of the Department; and

[[Page S4976]]

       (2) establish a process to modify existing approvals in the 
     event that a commercial institutional review board loses its 
     accreditation during an ongoing clinical trial.
       (c) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     completion of the policy revisions under subsection (a), and 
     annually thereafter, the Secretary 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 all approvals of institutional 
     review boards used by the Department, including central 
     institutional review boards and commercial institutional 
     review boards.
       (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include, at a minimum, the following:
       (A) The name of each clinical trial with respect to which 
     the use of an institutional review board has been approved.
       (B) The institutional review board or institutional review 
     boards used in the approval process for each clinical trial.
       (C) The amount of time between submission and approval.

     SEC. 705. CREATION OF OFFICE OF RESEARCH REVIEWS WITHIN THE 
                   OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall establish within the Office of Information and 
     Technology of the Department of Veterans Affairs an Office of 
     Research Reviews (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Office'').
       (b) Elements.--The Office shall do the following:
       (1) Perform centralized security reviews and complete 
     security processes for approved research sponsored outside 
     the Department, with a focus on multi-site clinical trials.
       (2) Develop and maintain a list of commercially available 
     software preferred for use in sponsored clinical trials of 
     the Department and ensure such list is maintained as part of 
     the official approved software products list of the 
     Department.
       (3) Develop benchmarks for appropriate timelines for 
     security reviews conducted by the Office.
       (c) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
     establishment of the Office, the Office 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 activity of the Office.
       (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include, at a minimum, the following:
       (A) The number of security reviews completed.
       (B) The number of personnel assigned for performing the 
     functions described in subsection (b).

                          ____________________