[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 9, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H1178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VETERANS' AND CAREGIVERS' COVID-19 
                 IMMUNIZATIONS NOW EXPANDED ACT OF 2021

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of the 
bill (H.R. 1276) to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
furnish COVID-19 vaccines to certain individuals, and for other 
purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1276

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Veterans' and Caregivers' COVID-19 Immunizations Now 
     Expanded Act of 2021'' or the ``VA VACCINE Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO FURNISH 
                   COVID-19 VACCINES TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     furnish a COVID-19 vaccine to a covered individual during the 
     COVID-19 public health emergency.
       (b) Vaccines Furnished Abroad.--In the case of an 
     individual who is a covered individual by reason of 
     subsection (d)(1)(B), the Secretary may furnish a COVID-19 
     vaccine to such individual under subsection (a) regardless of 
     whether the Secretary determines that such vaccine is needed 
     for the treatment of a service-connected disability of the 
     veteran or as part of a rehabilitation program under chapter 
     31 of title 38, United States Code.
       (c) Enrolled Veteran Priority.--In furnishing COVID-19 
     vaccines, the Secretary shall--
       (1) prioritize the vaccination of veterans who are enrolled 
     in the patient enrollment system of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of title 38, United 
     States Code, over the vaccination of covered individuals 
     under this section; and
       (2) only furnish such vaccines to covered individuals under 
     this section to the extent that such vaccines are available.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``covered individual'' means any of the 
     following:
       (A) A veteran who is not eligible to enroll in the patient 
     enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under 
     section 1705 of title 38, United States Code.
       (B) A veteran who is eligible for care under section 1724 
     of such title.
       (C) A family caregiver of an eligible veteran participating 
     in the program of comprehensive assistance for family 
     caregivers under section 1720G(a) of such title.
       (D) A caregiver of a covered veteran participating in the 
     program of general caregiver support services under section 
     1720G(b) of such title.
       (E) A caregiver of a veteran participating in the Medical 
     Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based 
     Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (2) The term ``COVID-19'' means the coronavirus disease 
     2019.
       (3) The term ``COVID-19 public health emergency'' means the 
     public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services on January 27, 2020, with respect to the 
     coronavirus disease 2019.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Takano

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:
       Strike all after section 1 and insert the following:

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO FURNISH 
                   COVID-19 VACCINES TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     furnish a COVID-19 vaccine to a covered individual during the 
     COVID-19 public health emergency.
       (b) Vaccines Furnished Abroad.--In the case of an 
     individual who is a covered individual by reason of 
     subsection (d)(2)(B), the Secretary may furnish a COVID-19 
     vaccine, in a geographic location other than a State, to such 
     individual under subsection (a) regardless of whether the 
     Secretary determines that such vaccine is needed for the 
     treatment of a service-connected disability of the veteran or 
     as part of a rehabilitation program under chapter 31 of title 
     38, United States Code.
       (c) Veteran and Accompanying Caregiver Priority.--In 
     furnishing COVID-19 vaccines, the Secretary shall--
       (1) prioritize the vaccination of veterans who are enrolled 
     in the patient enrollment system of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of title 38, United 
     States Code, veterans who fail to so enroll but receive 
     hospital care and medical services pursuant to subsection 
     (c)(2) of such section, and accompanying caregivers over the 
     vaccination of covered individuals under this section not 
     otherwise described in this paragraph; and
       (2) only furnish such vaccines to covered individuals under 
     this section to the extent that such vaccines are available.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``accompanying caregiver'' means a caregiver 
     described in subparagraph (C), (D), or (E) of paragraph (2) 
     who is accompanying a veteran as described in subsection 
     (c)(1).
       (2) The term ``covered individual'' means any of the 
     following:
       (A) A veteran who is not eligible to enroll in the patient 
     enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under 
     section 1705 of title 38, United States Code.
       (B) A veteran who is eligible for care under section 1724 
     of such title.
       (C) A family caregiver who is approved as a provider of 
     personal care services for an eligible veteran under the 
     program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers 
     under section 1720G(a) of such title.
       (D) A caregiver of a covered veteran participating in the 
     program of general caregiver support services under section 
     1720G(b) of such title.
       (E) A caregiver of a veteran participating in the Medical 
     Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based 
     Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (3) The term ``COVID-19'' means the Coronavirus disease 
     2019.
       (4) The term ``COVID-19 public health emergency'' means the 
     public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services on January 27, 2020, with respect to the 
     Coronavirus disease 2019.
       (5) The term ``State'' has the meaning given that term 
     section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

  Mr. TAKANO (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
to dispense with the reading of the amendment.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

                          ____________________