[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S5604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6072. Mr. TESTER (for himself and Mr. Moran) 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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1077. PILOT PROGRAM FOR TRAVEL COST REIMBURSEMENT FOR 
                   VETERANS ACCESSING READJUSTMENT COUNSELING 
                   SERVICES.

       (a) Pilot Program Required.--Not later than 270 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall establish and commence a pilot 
     program, within the Readjustment Counseling Service of the 
     Veterans Health Administration, to assess the feasibility and 
     advisability of providing payment to cover or offset 
     financial difficulties of an individual in accessing or using 
     transportation to and from the nearest Vet Center providing 
     the necessary readjustment counseling services for the plan 
     of service of the individual.
       (b) Participation.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out the pilot program required 
     by subsection (a), the Secretary shall limit participation--
       (A) by individuals pursuant to paragraph (2); and
       (B) by Vet Centers pursuant to paragraph (3).
       (2) Participation by individuals.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall limit participation in 
     the pilot program to individuals who are--
       (i) eligible for services at a Vet Center participating in 
     the pilot program; and
       (ii) experiencing financial hardship.
       (B) Financial hardship.--The Secretary shall determine the 
     meaning of ``financial hardship'' for purposes of 
     subparagraph (A)(ii).
       (3) Participation of vet centers.--Vet Centers 
     participating in the program shall be chosen by the Secretary 
     from among those Vet Centers serving individuals in areas 
     designated by the Secretary as rural, highly rural, or Tribal 
     land.
       (c) Travel Allowances and Reimbursements.--Under the pilot 
     program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
     provide a participating individual a travel allowance or 
     reimbursement at the earliest time practicable, but not later 
     than 10 business days before the date of the appointment for 
     which such allowance or reimbursement is to be used.
       (d) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
     program required by subsection (a) during the five-year 
     period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot 
     program.
       (e) Locations.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
     program at not fewer than five locations selected by the 
     Secretary for purposes of the pilot program.
       (2) Existing initiative.--Of the locations selected under 
     paragraph (1), four of which shall be the locations 
     participating in the initiative required under section 104 of 
     the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune 
     Families Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-154; 126 Stat. 1169) as 
     of the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (f) Annual Reports.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the commencement of the pilot program required by subsection 
     (a) and each year thereafter for the duration of the pilot 
     program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on 
     the findings of the Secretary with respect to the pilot 
     program.
       (2) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following:
       (A) The number of individuals who benefitted from the pilot 
     program, disaggregated by age, race or ethnicity, and sex, to 
     the extent possible.
       (B) The average distance traveled by each individual to a 
     Vet Center under the pilot program.
       (C) The definition of financial hardship determined by the 
     Secretary under subsection (b)(2)(B).
       (D) A description of how funds are distributed under the 
     pilot program.
       (E) The average amount of funds distributed per instance, 
     disaggregated by Vet Center.
       (F) A description of any impediments to the Secretary in 
     paying expenses or allowances under the pilot program.
       (G) An assessment of the potential for fraudulent receipt 
     of payment under the pilot program and the recommendations of 
     the Secretary for legislative or administrative action to 
     reduce such fraud.
       (H) Such recommendations for legislative or administrative 
     action as the Secretary considers appropriate with respect to 
     the payment of such expenses or allowances.
       (g) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term ``Vet 
     Center'' means a center for readjustment counseling and 
     related mental health services for veterans under section 
     1712A of title 38, United States Code.
                                 ______