[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 150 (Monday, September 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4563-S4564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1234. Mrs. BLACKBURN 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 GUIDANCE AND OVERSIGHT OF IMPLEMENTATION 
                   OF ELIGIBILITY FOR COMMUNITY CARE FROM 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DUE TO WAIT 
                   TIMES FOR CARE FROM A FACILITY OF THE 
                   DEPARTMENT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate 
     committees of Congress a report containing the following:
       (1) A description of oversight efforts undertaken or 
     quality assurance processes implemented to ensure accurate 
     calculations are used at facilities of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs for the purposes of eligibility for 
     community care due to wait times for care from a facility of 
     the Department.
       (2) A description of any inaccurate calculations identified 
     and corrective actions that have been made with respect to 
     such eligibility.
       (3) A description of guidance or training undertaken to 
     ensure that facilities of the Department correctly determine 
     eligibility for community care from the Department due to 
     wait times for care from a facility of the Department 
     consistent with the designated access standards developed by 
     the Secretary under section 1703B of title 38, United States 
     Code.

[[Page S4564]]

       (b) Appropriate Committees of Congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
                                 ______