[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 118 (Tuesday, July 11, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2317-S2318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 143. Mr. TESTER (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2226, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 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 title X, add the following:

Subtitle H--Critical Health Access Resource and Grant Extensions Act of 
                                  2023

     SEC. 1091. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Critical Health Access 
     Resource and Grant Extensions Act of 2023'' or the ``CHARGE 
     Act of 2023''.

                      PART I--HOMELESSNESS MATTERS

     SEC. 1092. GRANTS AND PER DIEM PAYMENTS PROVIDED BY THE 
                   SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR SERVICES 
                   FURNISHED TO HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) Limitation on Transitional Housing Beds.--Section 2011 
     of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(i) Limitation on Transitional Housing Beds.--The 
     Secretary may not make grants under this section or provide 
     per diem payments under section 2012 of this title for more 
     than 12,000 transitional housing beds for homeless veterans 
     furnished by grant recipients or eligible entities under such 
     sections on average each year.''.
       (b) Reports Required.--Section 2012 of such title is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(f) Reports Required.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     date of the enactment of the CHARGE Act of 2023, and not less 
     frequently than twice each year thereafter, 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 rate for per diem payments 
     under this section that includes, for each Veterans 
     Integrated Service Network of the Department, the following 
     data:
       ``(1) The average rate for such payments.
       ``(2) A list of locations where the rate for such payments 
     is within 10 percent of the maximum rate for such payments 
     authorized under this section.
       ``(3) The average length of stay by veterans participating 
     in programs described in section 2011(a) of this title.''.
       (c) Maximum Rate.--During the three-year period beginning 
     on the date of the enactment of this Act, section 
     2012(a)(2)(B)(i)(II)(aa)(BB) of title 38, United States Code, 
     shall be applied and administered by substituting ``200'' for 
     ``115''.
       (d) Strategic Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 540 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a strategic plan for the provision of grants 
     and per diem payments for services furnished to homeless 
     veterans under sections 2011 and 2012 of title 38, United 
     States Code.
       (2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) A method for administering grant funding equitably 
     without using the rate authorized for State homes for 
     domiciliary care under subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 
     of title 38, United States Code, as the Secretary may 
     increase from time to time under subsection (c) of that 
     section, that takes into account--
       (i) the wide variety of services furnished by grant 
     recipients and eligible entities under sections 2011 and 2012 
     of title 38, United States Code;
       (ii) varying costs of living across different geographic 
     locations;
       (iii) varying availability of affordable housing in 
     different geographic locations;
       (iv) circumstances of housing insecurity in rural and 
     Tribal communities;
       (v) veterans with significant medical care needs; and
       (vi) the changing dynamic of the veteran population 
     nationwide.
       (B) A plan and timeline for implementation of the method 
     included under subparagraph (A).
       (C) An estimate of increased costs or savings per year 
     under the plan.
       (D) An overview of the different grants that will be 
     available once the plan is implemented.

     SEC. 1093. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF CERTAIN FUNDS FOR 
                   IMPROVED FLEXIBILITY IN PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE 
                   TO HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle VII of chapter 20 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 2069. Flexibility in provision of assistance to 
       homeless veterans

       ``(a) Use of Funds.--The Secretary may provide to homeless 
     veterans and veterans participating in the program carried 
     out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act 
     of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)), as the Secretary determines 
     necessary, the following:
       ``(1) Assistance required for the safety and survival of 
     the veteran (such as food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and 
     hygiene items).
       ``(2) Transportation required to support the stability and 
     health of the veteran (such as transportation for 
     appointments with service providers, the conduct of housing 
     searches, and the obtainment of food and supplies).
       ``(3) Communications equipment and services (such as 
     tablets, smartphones, disposable phones, and related service 
     plans) required to support the stability and health of the 
     veteran (such as through the maintenance of contact with 
     service providers, prospective landlords, and family 
     members).
       ``(4) Such other assistance as the Secretary determines 
     necessary.
       ``(b) Homeless Veterans on Department Land.--(1) The 
     Secretary may collaborate, to the extent practicable, with 
     one or more organizations to manage the use of land of the 
     Department for homeless veterans for living and sleeping.
       ``(2) Collaboration under paragraph (1) may include the 
     provision by either the Secretary or the head of the 
     organization concerned of food services and security for 
     property, buildings, and other facilities owned or controlled 
     by the Department.
       ``(c) Sunset.--The authorities provided by this section 
     shall terminate on the date that is three years after the 
     date of the enactment of the CHARGE Act of 2023.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new item:
``2069. Flexibility in provision of assistance to homeless veterans.''.

     SEC. 1094. ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle VII of chapter 20 of title 38, 
     United States Code, as amended by section 1093(a), is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 2070. Access to telehealth services

       ``To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure 
     that veterans participating in or receiving services from a 
     program under this chapter have access to telehealth services 
     to which such veterans are eligible under the laws 
     administered by the Secretary, including by ensuring that 
     telehealth capabilities are available to--
       ``(1) such veterans;
       ``(2) case managers of the Department of programs for 
     homeless veterans authorized under this chapter; and
       ``(3) community-based service providers for homeless 
     veterans receiving funds from the Department through grants 
     or contracts.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 20 of such title, as amended by section 
     1093(b), is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:
``2070. Access to telehealth services.''.

[[Page S2318]]

  


                PART II--MATTERS RELATING TO CAREGIVERS

     SEC. 1095. AUTHORIZED VIRTUAL VISITS UNDER CAREGIVER PROGRAMS 
                   OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       On or before September 30, 2023, notwithstanding any 
     requirement to the contrary under section 1720G of title 38, 
     United States Code, or part 71 of title 38, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, or successor regulations, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs may complete any home visit required under 
     such section with respect to a veteran and their caregiver 
     through video conference or other available telehealth 
     modality, if agreed to by the veteran or caregiver.

                     PART III--STATE VETERANS HOMES

     SEC. 1096. STATE HOME DEFINED.

       In this part, the term ``State home'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 1097. TEMPORARY WAIVER OF OCCUPANCY RATE REQUIREMENTS 
                   FOR RECEIPT OF PER DIEM PAYMENTS.

       During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
     this Act and ending on September 30, 2024, occupancy rate 
     requirements for State homes for purposes of receiving per 
     diem payments set forth in section 51.40(c) of title 38, Code 
     of Federal Regulations, or successor regulations, shall not 
     apply.

     SEC. 1098. PROVISION OF MEDICINE, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     provide to State homes medicines, personal protective 
     equipment, medical supplies, and any other equipment, 
     supplies, and assistance available to the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Personal Protective Equipment Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``personal protective equipment'' means any 
     protective equipment required to prevent the wearer from 
     contracting an infectious disease, including gloves, N-95 
     respirator masks, gowns, goggles, face shields, or other 
     equipment required for safety.
                                 ______