[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 7, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2836-S2837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 5059. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 5051 submitted by Mr. Tester (for himself and Mr. 
Moran)

[[Page S2837]]

and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 3967, to improve health 
care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the end of title I, add the following:

                 Subtitle C--Other Health Care Matters

     SEC. 121. MODIFICATION OF DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY OF 
                   VETERANS FOR TREATMENT AS A LOW-INCOME FAMILY 
                   FOR PURPOSES OF ENROLLMENT IN THE PATIENT 
                   ENROLLMENT SYSTEM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) Areas of Residence.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall modify the areas in which veterans reside as specified 
     for purposes of determining whether veterans qualify for 
     treatment as low-income families for enrollment in the 
     patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs under section 1705(a)(7) of title 38, United States 
     Code, to meet the requirements as follows:
       (1) Any area so specified shall be within only one State.
       (2) Any area so specified shall be coextensive with one or 
     more counties (or similar political subdivisions) in the 
     State concerned.
       (b) Variable Income Thresholds.--The Secretary shall modify 
     the thresholds for income as specified for purposes of 
     determining whether veterans qualify for treatment as low-
     income families for enrollment in the patient enrollment 
     system referred to in subsection (a) to meet the requirements 
     as follows:
       (1) There shall be one income threshold for each State, 
     equal to 100 percent of the highest income threshold among--
       (A) the counties or metropolitan statistical areas within 
     such State; and
       (B) any metropolitan statistical area that encompasses 
     territory of such State and one or more other States.
       (2) The calculation of the highest income threshold of a 
     county or metropolitan statistical area shall be consistent 
     with the calculation used for purposes of section 3(b) of the 
     United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).
       (3) The timing and methodology for implementing any 
     modifications in geographic income thresholds pursuant to 
     paragraph (1) shall be determined by the Secretary in such a 
     manner as to permit the Department to build capacity for 
     enrolling such additional veterans in the patient enrollment 
     system of the Department as become eligible for enrollment as 
     a result of such modifications, except that all required 
     modifications shall be completed not later than five years 
     after date of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Metropolitan Statistical Area.--In this section, the 
     term ``metropolitan statistical area'' has the meaning given 
     that term by the Office of Management and Budget.

     SEC. 122. GUARANTEE OF HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR ENROLLED 
                   VETERANS.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that all 
     veterans, once enrolled in the patient enrollment system of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a) of 
     title 38, United States Code, remain enrolled in such system 
     and may continue receiving health care furnished by the 
     Department if they choose, subject to such cost-sharing 
     requirements as may apply to the veteran under existing 
     provisions of law.
                                 ______