[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2676-S2677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 545. Mrs. SHAHEEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by her 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. 7__. INCLUSION OF EXPOSURE TO PERFLUOROALKYL AND 
                   POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AS PART OF PERIODIC 
                   HEALTH ASSESSMENTS.

       (a) Periodic Health Assessment.--The Secretary of Defense 
     shall ensure that any periodic health assessment provided to 
     a member of the Armed Forces includes an evaluation of 
     whether the member has been--
       (1) based or stationed at a military installation 
     identified by the Department of Defense as a location with a 
     known or suspected release of perfluoroalkyl substances or 
     polyfluoroalkyl substances during the period in which the 
     member was based or stationed at the military installation; 
     or
       (2) exposed to such substances, including by evaluating any 
     information in the health record of the member.
       (b) Separation History and Physical Examinations.--Section 
     1145(a)(5) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph (D)'' 
     and inserting ``subparagraph (E)'';
       (2) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); 
     and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new 
     subparagraph (D):
       ``(D) The Secretary concerned shall ensure that each 
     physical examination of a member under subparagraph (A) 
     includes an assessment of whether the member was--
       ``(i) based or stationed at a military installation 
     identified by the Department as a location with a known or 
     suspected release of

[[Page S2677]]

     perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances 
     during the period in which the member was based or stationed 
     at the military installation; or
       ``(ii) exposed to such substances, including by assessing 
     any information in the health record of the member.''.
       (c) Deployment Assessments.--Section 1074f(b)(2) of title 
     10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subparagraph:
       ``(E) An assessment of whether the member was--
       ``(i) based or stationed at a military installation 
     identified by the Department as a location with a known or 
     suspected release of perfluoroalkyl substances or 
     polyfluoroalkyl substances during the period in which the 
     member was based or stationed at the military installation; 
     or
       ``(ii) exposed to such substances, including by assessing 
     any information in the health record of the member.''.

     SEC. 7__. PROVISION OF BLOOD TESTING FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
                   FORCES, FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, AND 
                   THEIR FAMILIES TO DETERMINE EXPOSURE TO 
                   PERFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES OR POLYFLUOROALKYL 
                   SUBSTANCES.

       (a) Members of the Armed Forces.--
       (1) In general.--If a covered evaluation of a member of the 
     Armed Forces results in a positive determination of potential 
     exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl 
     substances, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to that 
     member, during that covered evaluation, blood testing to 
     determine and document potential exposure to such substances.
       (2) Inclusion in health record.--The results of blood 
     testing of a member of the Armed Forces conducted under 
     paragraph (1) shall be included in the health record of the 
     member.
       (b) Former Members of the Armed Forces and Family 
     Members.--The Secretary shall pay for blood testing to 
     determine and document potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl 
     substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances for any covered 
     individual, at the election of the individual, either through 
     the TRICARE program for individuals otherwise eligible for 
     such program or through the use of vouchers to obtain such 
     testing.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covered evaluation.--The term ``covered evaluation'' 
     means--
       (A) a periodic health assessment conducted in accordance 
     with [section 7__(a)];
       (B) a separation history and physical examination conducted 
     under section 1145(a)(5) of title 10, United States Code, as 
     amended by [section 7__(b)]; and
       (C) a deployment assessment conducted under section 
     1074f(b)(2) of such title, as amended by [section 7__(c)].
       (2) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual'' 
     means a former member of the Armed Forces or a family member 
     of a member or former member of the Armed Forces who lived at 
     a location (or the surrounding area of such a location) 
     identified by the Department of Defense as a location with a 
     known or suspected release of perfluoroalkyl substances or 
     polyfluoroalkyl substances during the period in which the 
     individual lived at that location (or surrounding area).
       (3) TRICARE program.--The term ``TRICARE program'' has the 
     meaning given that term in section 1072(7) of title 10, 
     United States Code.
                                 ______