[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2963-S2964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AMENDING TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE, TO STRENGTHEN BENEFITS FOR 
          CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 101, S. 112.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 112) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
     strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born 
     with spina bifida, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. CARDIN. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read 
a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered 
made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 112) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 112

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS 
                   AND CERTAIN OTHER VETERANS.

       (a) Definitions.--Section 1831 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
     (4) and (5), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
     paragraphs:
       ``(2) The term `covered child' means a child who is 
     eligible for health care and benefits under this chapter.
       ``(3) The term `covered veteran' means an individual whose 
     children are eligible for health care and benefits under this 
     chapter.''.
       (b) In General.--Subchapter IV of chapter 18 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new sections:

     ``Sec. 1835. Advisory council

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish an 
     advisory council on health care and benefits for covered 
     children.
       ``(b) Membership.--The advisory council established under 
     subsection (a) shall be composed of Federal employees.
       ``(c) Duties.--The advisory council established under 
     subsection (a) shall solicit feedback from covered children 
     and covered veterans on the health care and benefits provided 
     under this chapter and communicate such feedback to the 
     Secretary.

     ``Sec. 1836. Care and coordination teams

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish care and 
     coordination teams for covered children.
       ``(b) Outreach.--A care and coordination team established 
     under subsection (a) shall attempt to contact each covered 
     child--
       ``(1) not less frequently than once every 180 days, to 
     ensure the continued care of the child and assist with any 
     changes in care needed due to a changed situation of the 
     child; and
       ``(2) as soon as practicable after the identification of a 
     condition listed in the report required by subsection (c).
       ``(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this section, the

[[Page S2964]]

     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 setting forth a list of 
     conditions that will trigger outreach to covered children 
     under subsection (b)(2).

     ``Sec. 1837. Duration of health care and benefits provided

       ``The Secretary shall provide a covered child with health 
     care and benefits under this chapter--
       ``(1) for the duration of the life of the child; and
       ``(2) notwithstanding any death of a parent of the child 
     that precedes the death of the child.

     ``Sec. 1838. Biennial report

       ``Not less frequently than once every two years, the 
     Secretary shall submit to Congress a report setting forth the 
     following:
       ``(1) The number of covered children receiving health care 
     or benefits under this chapter as of the date on which the 
     report is submitted.
       ``(2) The number of covered children for which the 
     Department is paying for or providing a social worker as of 
     such date.
       ``(3) Metrics on outreach conducted under section 1836(b) 
     of this title.''.
       (c) Memorandum of Understanding.--Not later than 90 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under 
     Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     and the Under Secretary for Health of the Department shall 
     enter into a memorandum of understanding--
       (1) to better assist covered children (as defined in 
     section 1831 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by 
     subsection (a)); and
       (2) to establish conditions to be included in the report 
     required by section 1836(c) of title 38, United States Code, 
     as added by subsection (b).
       (d) Implementation.--
       (1) Advisory council.--Not later than 270 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall establish the advisory council required under 
     section 1835 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (b).
       (2) Care and coordination teams.--Not later than one year 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall establish the care and coordination 
     teams required under section 1836 of such title, as added by 
     subsection (b).
       (e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 18 of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new items:
``1835. Advisory council.
``1836. Care and coordination teams.
``1837. Duration of health care and benefits provided.
``1838. Biennial report.''.

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