[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 462. Mr. MARSHALL 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 subtitle C of title VII, add the following:

     SEC. 727. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING REMOVAL OF PRIESTS FROM 
                   WALTER REED MEDICAL HOSPITAL.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the provision of pastoral care by priests and religious 
     leaders is vital for the spiritual and emotional well-being 
     of members of the Armed Forces and their families;
       (2) medical facilities of the Department of Defense, 
     including Walter Reed Medical Hospital, play a critical role 
     in providing health care services to the military community;
       (3) recent reports prior to the date of the enactment of 
     this Act indicate that priests providing pastoral care at 
     Walter Reed Medical Hospital were unexpectedly removed, 
     disrupting the availability of spiritual support for patients 
     and their families;
       (4) the sudden removal of priests from Walter Reed Medical 
     Hospital raises concerns about the effect on the religious 
     and spiritual needs of patients during their healing process;
       (5) priests offer invaluable guidance, comfort, and solace, 
     and their presence is essential for individuals facing 
     physical and emotional challenges; and
       (6) the Secretary of Defense should investigate the 
     circumstances surrounding the removal of priests from Walter 
     Reed Medical Hospital and take appropriate measures to ensure 
     that patients have access to pastoral care services without 
     interruption.
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