[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 133 (Friday, August 1, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5338-S5339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3580. Ms. SMITH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2026 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 end of subtitle F of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1067. PILOT PROGRAM TO FURNISH HEARING AIDS, HEARING 
                   TESTS, AND RELATED HEALTH CARE FROM THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO VETERANS WITH 
                   HEARING LOSS.

       (a) In General.--Commencing not later than one year after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program (in

[[Page S5339]]

     this section referred to as the ``pilot program'') under 
     which the Secretary shall furnish covered care to covered 
     veterans for the duration of the pilot program.
       (b) Duration.--The pilot program shall be carried out 
     during the four-year period beginning on the date of the 
     commencement of the pilot program.
       (c) Locations.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
     program at the following locations:
       (A) Each medical center of the Department with an 
     established hearing clinic.
       (B) Each community-based outpatient clinic with an 
     established hearing clinic.
       (2) Mobile hearing clinics.--In carrying out the pilot 
     program, the Secretary shall test the efficacy of mobile 
     hearing clinics to service rural areas that do not have a 
     population base to warrant a full-time clinic but where there 
     are covered veterans in need of covered care.
       (3) Home-based hearing care.--In carrying out the pilot 
     program, the Secretary shall test the efficacy of using 
     portable units to provide covered care to rural veteran in 
     their homes, as the Secretary considers medically 
     appropriate.
       (d) Hearing Therapists and Tele-hearing.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out the pilot program, The 
     Secretary shall test the efficacy of the use of hearing 
     therapists and tele-hearing to service the covered care needs 
     of covered veterans.
       (2) Use of tele-hearing.--When providing tele-hearing under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use Federal employees to 
     the maximum extent possible.
       (e) Administration.--
       (1) Notice to covered veterans.--In carrying out the pilot 
     program, the Secretary shall inform all covered veterans of 
     the covered care available under the pilot program.
       (2) Copayments.--The Secretary may collect copayments for 
     covered care furnished under the pilot program in accordance 
     with authorities on the collection of copayments for medical 
     care of veterans under chapter 17 of title 38, United States 
     Code.
       (f) Reports.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days before the 
     completion of the pilot program, and not later than 180 days 
     after the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
     Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of 
     the House of Representatives a report on the pilot program.
       (2) Contents.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) A description of the implementation and operation of 
     the provision of covered care under the pilot program.
       (B) The number of covered veterans receiving covered care 
     under the pilot program and a description of the covered care 
     furnished to such veterans.
       (C) An analysis of the costs and benefits of covered care 
     provided under the pilot program, including a comparison of 
     costs and benefits by location type.
       (D) An assessment of the impact of the pilot program on 
     appointments for care, prescriptions, hospitalizations, 
     emergency room visits, wellness, employability, satisfaction, 
     and perceived quality of life of covered veterans.
       (E) An analysis and assessment of the efficacy of mobile 
     clinics and portable hearing care units, to the extent such 
     modalities are used, to service the needs of covered veterans 
     under the pilot program.
       (F) An analysis and assessment of the efficacy of hearing 
     therapists and tele-hearing to service the needs of covered 
     veterans under the pilot program, to include a cost benefit 
     analysis of such services.
       (G) The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with 
     respect to the pilot program.
       (H) Such recommendations as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate for the expansion of covered care to all veterans 
     eligible for health care from the Department.
       (g) Impact on Community Care.--Nothing in this section 
     limits a covered veteran from accessing care or services 
     pursuant to section 1703 of title 38, United States Code.
       (h) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covered care.--The term ``covered care'' means the 
     provision of hearing aids, hearing tests, and related health 
     care.
       (2) Covered veteran.--The term ``covered veteran'' means a 
     veteran who--
       (A) is enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and 
     operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States 
     Code; and
       (B) has hearing loss.
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