[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 140 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5990]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REQUIRING THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONDUCT A 
STUDY ON DISPARITIES ASSOCIATED WITH RACE AND ETHNICITY WITH RESPECT TO 
   CERTAIN BENEFITS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

  Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 
1031 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1031) to require the Comptroller General of the 
     United States to conduct a study on disparities associated 
     with race and ethnicity with respect to certain benefits 
     administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for 
     other purposes.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. SCHATZ. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read 
a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered 
made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1031) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed as follows

                                S. 1031

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

     SECTION 1. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE STUDY ON 
                   DISPARITIES ASSOCIATED WITH RACE AND ETHNICITY 
                   WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN BENEFITS ADMINISTERED 
                   BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Study Required.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct a study--
       (1) to assess whether there are disparities associated with 
     race and ethnicity with respect to--
       (A) compensation benefits administered by the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs;
       (B) disability ratings determined by the Secretary, with 
     specific consideration of disability evaluations based on 
     pain; and
       (C) the rejection of fully developed claims for benefits 
     under laws administered by the Secretary; and
       (2) to develop recommendations to facilitate better data 
     collection on the disparities described in paragraph (1).
       (b) Initial Briefing.--Not later than one year after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
     shall brief Congress on the initial results of the study 
     conducted under subsection (a).
       (c) Final Report.--Not later than 240 days after the date 
     on which the briefing required by subsection (b) is 
     conducted, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a 
     final report setting forth the results of the study conducted 
     under subsection (a), including the recommendations developed 
     under paragraph (2) of such subsection.

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