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

  SA 5058. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 5051 submitted by Mr. Tester (for himself and Mr. 
Moran) 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. EXPANSION OF HEALTH CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE 
                   RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO ARE 
                   NOT ON ACTIVE ORDERS.

       (a) Expansion of Care.--
       (1) In general.--Section 1789 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 1789. Health care for members of the reserve 
       components of the Armed Forces

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary (subject to subsection 
     (c)) shall furnish hospital care and medical services to any 
     member of the reserve components of the Armed Forces during 
     any period in which the member is not entitled to health care 
     furnished by the Secretary of Defense.
       ``(b) Mental Health Care.--The Secretary may furnish mental 
     health services to members of the reserve components of the 
     Armed Forces.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The requirement in subsection (a) shall 
     be effective in any fiscal year only to the extent and in the 
     amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts for such 
     purpose.
       ``(d) Consultation With Secretary of Defense.--The 
     Secretary shall carry out this section in consultation with 
     the Secretary of Defense.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of such title is 
     amended by striking the item relating to section 1789 and 
     inserting the following new item:

``1789. Health care for members of the reserve components of the Armed 
              Forces.''.
       (b) Enrollment in Patient Enrollment System.--
       (1) Priority for enrollment.--Section 1705(a) of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``enrollment of veterans'' and inserting ``enrollment of 
     individuals under such system''; and
       (B) in paragraph (7)--
       (i) by striking ``Veterans'' and inserting ``(A) 
     Veterans''; and
       (ii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) Members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces 
     for purposes of furnishing hospital care and medical services 
     under section 1789(a) of this title.''.
       (2) Initial enrollment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall enroll all members of the reserve components of the 
     Armed Forces in the patient enrollment system by not later 
     than December 31, 2022.
       (3) Ongoing enrollment.--After December 31, 2022, the 
     Secretary shall automatically enroll in the patient 
     enrollment system all new members of the reserve components 
     of the Armed Forces upon those members joining the reserve 
     components.
       (4) Consultation with secretary of defense.--The Secretary 
     shall carry out this subsection and the amendments made by 
     this subsection in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Defense.
       (5) Patient enrollment system defined.--In this subsection, 
     the term ``patient enrollment system'' means the system of 
     annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs established and operated under section 1705(a) of 
     title 38, United States Code.
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