[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5327-S5328]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 5850. Mrs. SHAHEEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe)
and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle A of title VII, add the following:
SEC. 706. INCLUSION OF EXPOSURE TO PERFLUOROALKYL AND
POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AS PART OF PERIODIC
HEALTH ASSESSMENTS.
(a) Periodic Health Assessment.--The Secretary of Defense
shall ensure that any periodic health assessment provided to
a member of the Armed Forces includes an evaluation of
whether the member has been--
(1) based or stationed at a military installation
identified by the Department of Defense as a location with a
known or suspected release of perfluoroalkyl substances or
polyfluoroalkyl substances during the period in which the
member was based or stationed at the military installation;
or
(2) exposed to such substances, including by evaluating any
information in the health record of the member.
(b) Separation History and Physical Examinations.--Section
1145(a)(5) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph (D)''
and inserting ``subparagraph (E)'';
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);
and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new
subparagraph (D):
``(D) The Secretary concerned shall ensure that each
physical examination of a member under subparagraph (A)
includes an assessment of whether the member was--
``(i) based or stationed at a military installation
identified by the Department as a location with a known or
suspected release of perfluoroalkyl substances or
polyfluoroalkyl substances during the period in which the
member was based or stationed at the military installation;
or
``(ii) exposed to such substances, including by assessing
any information in the health record of the member.''.
(c) Deployment Assessments.--Section 1074f(b)(2) of title
10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(E) An assessment of whether the member was--
``(i) based or stationed at a military installation
identified by the Department as a location with a known or
suspected release of perfluoroalkyl substances or
polyfluoroalkyl substances during the period in which the
member was based or stationed at the military installation;
or
``(ii) exposed to such substances, including by assessing
any information in the health record of the member.''.
[[Page S5328]]
SEC. 707. PROVISION OF BLOOD TESTING FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES, FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, AND
THEIR FAMILIES TO DETERMINE EXPOSURE TO
PERFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES OR POLYFLUOROALKYL
SUBSTANCES.
(a) Members of the Armed Forces.--
(1) In general.--If a covered evaluation of a member of the
Armed Forces results in a positive determination of potential
exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl
substances, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to that
member, during that covered evaluation, blood testing to
determine and document potential exposure to such substances.
(2) Inclusion in health record.--The results of blood
testing of a member of the Armed Forces conducted under
paragraph (1) shall be included in the health record of the
member.
(b) Former Members of the Armed Forces and Family
Members.--The Secretary shall pay for blood testing to
determine and document potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl
substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances for any covered
individual, at the election of the individual, either through
the TRICARE program for individuals otherwise eligible for
such program or through the use of vouchers to obtain such
testing.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered evaluation.--The term ``covered evaluation''
means--
(A) a periodic health assessment conducted in accordance
with section 706(a);
(B) a separation history and physical examination conducted
under section 1145(a)(5) of title 10, United States Code, as
amended by section 706(b); and
(C) a deployment assessment conducted under section
1074f(b)(2) of such title, as amended by section 706(c).
(2) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual''
means a former member of the Armed Forces or a family member
of a member or former member of the Armed Forces who lived at
a location (or the surrounding area of such a location)
identified by the Department of Defense as a location with a
known or suspected release of perfluoroalkyl substances or
polyfluoroalkyl substances during the period in which the
individual lived at that location (or surrounding area).
(3) TRICARE program.--The term ``TRICARE program'' has the
meaning given that term in section 1072(7) of title 10,
United States Code.
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