[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 149 (Thursday, September 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1209. Mr. KING (for himself and Mr. Tester) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray 
(for herself and Ms. Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making 
appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
2024, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

        At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. REPORT ON IMPACT OF PROPOSED RULE ON ACCESS OF 
                   VETERANS TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
     report on the impact of the proposed rule submitted by the 
     Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services relating to 
     ``Medicare and Medicaid programs; minimum staffing standards 
     for long-term care facilities and Medicaid institutional 
     payment transparency reporting'' (88 Fed. Reg. 61352; 
     published September 6, 2023) on the access of veterans to 
     long-term care facilities under the laws administered by the 
     Secretary, which shall include the following:
       (1) The number of State homes at which current staffing 
     would not meet the threshold for minimum staffing outlined in 
     such proposed rule.
       (2) The number of veterans who reside in a State home 
     described in paragraph (1).
       (3) The number of community nursing homes currently 
     contracted with the Department of Veterans Affairs that would 
     not meet the threshold for minimum staffing outlined in such 
     proposed rule.
       (4) The number of veterans who reside in a community 
     nursing home described in paragraph (3).
       (5) An assessment of whether or not such proposed rule 
     would have any impact on community living centers of the 
     Department.
       (6) An analysis of whether the Department will be able to 
     adequately meet the long-term care needs of veterans after 
     the full implementation of such proposed rule, including 
     veterans in--
       (A) rural and highly rural areas;
       (B) medically underserved areas;
       (C) territories of the United States; or
       (D) Tribal areas.
       (7) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
       (2) State home.--The term ``State home'' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 101(19) of title 38, United States 
     Code.
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