[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 320. Mr. OSSOFF (for himself and Mr. Moran) 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 appropriate place in title VII, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. REPORT ON MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH CARE REFERRAL 
                   POLICIES.

       (a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
     to the congressional defense committees a report--
       (1) detailing the mental health care referral policies of 
     the Armed Forces; and
       (2) the impact of removing primary care referral 
     requirements for outpatient mental health care on--
       (A) military readiness;
       (B) the uptake of outpatient mental health care services by 
     members of the Armed Forces; and
       (C) suicide prevention.
       (b) Recommendations.--The report required by subsection (a) 
     shall include recommendations and legislative proposals--
       (1) to improve resources and access for outpatient mental 
     health care services by members of the Armed Forces;
       (2) to encourage the uptake of such services by such 
     members; and
       (3) to maintain military readiness.
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