[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2444. Mr. RUBIO (for himself and Ms. Sinema) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 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 X, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. ENSURING ONLY LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS 
                   PERFORM MEDICAL DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS UNDER 
                   CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Prohibition on Use of Certain Health Care 
     Professionals.--Section 504(c)(1) of the Veterans' Benefits 
     Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 
     note) is amended by inserting ``only'' before ``a health care 
     professional''.
       (b) Remedies.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take 
     such actions as the Secretary considers appropriate to ensure 
     compliance with section 504(c) of the Veterans' Benefits 
     Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 
     note), as amended by subsection (a).
       (c) Annual Report.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than 
     once each year thereafter, the 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 on--
       (1) the conduct of the pilot program established under 
     section 504 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 
     1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note); and
       (2) the actions of the Secretary under subsection (b).
       (d) Technical Corrections.--Section 504 of the Veterans' 
     Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 
     U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended, in the section heading, by 
     striking ``physicians'' and inserting ``health care 
     professionals''.
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