[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.
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