[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 16, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2859-S2861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 5828. Mr. KING submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2027 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 VII, insert the
following:
SEC. 7__. PRE-TRANSITION HEALTH CARE REGISTRATION OF MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES TO STREAMLINE RECEIPT OF
HEALTH CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
(a) Health Care Pre-Registration.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section
1705A the following new section:
``Sec. 1705B. Management of health care: registration in pre-
transition system and facilitation of enrollment
``(a) Pre-Transition System.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days before the
anticipated separation from the Armed Forces of a member of
the Armed Forces, the Secretary shall automatically register
such member in the pre-transition health care registration
system.
``(2) Registration.--Registration of a member of the Armed
Forces in the pre-transition health care registration system
under paragraph (1) shall consist of the entry of relevant
information of such member into such system so as to
facilitate and permit, at a future date, a final
determination with respect to the enrollment of such member
in the patient enrollment system if such member elects to
enroll in the patient enrollment system and is eligible to
enroll in the patient enrollment system.
``(b) Facilitation of Enrollment in Patient Enrollment
System.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after separation
of a covered individual from the Armed Forces, or as soon as
feasibly possible following such separation, the Secretary
shall engage with such individual--
``(A) to assist and facilitate the completion of the
process for enrollment of such individual in the patient
enrollment system, to include the appropriate electronic or
paper forms; and
``(B) to schedule an initial primary care or other health
appointment for such individual under the laws administered
by the Secretary if the individual is interested in such an
appointment.
``(2) Communication efforts.--Communication to a covered
individual under paragraph (1) shall be conducted through a
combination of effective mechanisms to include by electronic
means through email and text message, paper mail, and by
phone.
``(3) Covered individual defined.--In this subsection, the
term `covered individual' means an individual who--
``(A) is eligible for or expected to be eligible for
enrollment in the patient enrollment system; and
``(B) is not yet enrolled in such system.
``(c) Outreach.--
``(1) Pre-transition.--
``(A) In general.--To the greatest extent feasible, the
Secretary shall conduct timely outreach to members of the
Armed Forces registered in the pre-transition health care
registration system, in advance of their separation from the
Armed Forces, to explain--
``(i) what such registration means in practical terms;
[[Page S2860]]
``(ii) what steps each such member will need to take after
separation from the Armed Forces to fully enroll, if
eligible, in the patient enrollment system;
``(iii) health care services that may be available to such
member upon enrollment in such system, including the general
rules of eligibility for such services;
``(iv) health care services that may be available to such
member regardless of enrollment in such system, including
counseling for military sexual trauma and services from Vet
Centers (as defined in section 1712A of this title),
including the general rules of eligibility for such services;
and
``(v) the steps required to access services described in
clauses (iii) and (iv).
``(B) Outreach efforts.--Outreach to a member of the Armed
Forces required under subparagraph (A) shall be conducted
through a combination of effective mechanisms, including by
electronic means through email and text message, paper mail,
and by phone.
``(2) After enrollment.--
``(A) In general.--Not less frequently than once during the
180-day period following the enrollment of an individual in
the patient enrollment system, the Secretary shall contact
any such individual who has not scheduled a primary care
appointment or other health appointment under the laws
administered by the Secretary and offer to schedule such
appointment should such individual be interested in doing so.
``(B) Conduct of outreach.--The Secretary may conduct
outreach under subparagraph (A) as part of the Solid Start
program under section 6320 of this title, other existing
processes of the Department, or any new process as the
Secretary determines appropriate.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Patient enrollment system.--The term `patient
enrollment system' means the system of annual patient
enrollment of the Department established and operated under
section 1705(a) of this title.
``(2) Pre-transition health care registration system.--The
term `pre-transition health care registration system' means
an information technology or other system or systems of the
Department in which the Department enters or stores the
relevant information of a transitioning member of the Armed
Forces so as to facilitate and permit, at a future date, a
final enrollment determination with respect to the enrollment
of such member in the patient enrollment system.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 1705A the following new item:
``1705B. Management of health care: registration in pre-transition
system and facilitation of enrollment.''.
(3) Effective date.--This subsection and the amendments
made by this subsection shall take effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act and apply to any member of the Armed
Forces who is anticipated to separate from the Armed Forces
on and after the date that is one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(b) Establishment of System.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall
establish and implement an automated process to implement the
pre-transition health care registration system required under
section 1705B(a) of title 38, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a)(1).
(2) Briefings on initial implementation.--Not later than
each of 180 days, one year, and two years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Department of Veterans
Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee
established under section 320 of title 38, United States
Code, shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress
a briefing on the implementation of the process required
under paragraph (1).
(c) Coordination With Department of Defense.--
(1) In general.--In implementing the requirements of this
section and the amendments made by this section, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may integrate and coordinate
such implementation with the Solid Start program of the
Department of Veterans Affairs under section 6320 of title
38, United States Code, other existing processes of the
Department, or any new process as the Secretary determines
appropriate to ensure collaboration and coordination with
relevant programs of the Department of Defense.
(2) Inclusion in transition assistance program.--On and
after the date that is one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall include
an explanation of the pre-transition health care registration
system required under section 1705B of title 38, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), as part of the
Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense.
(d) Requirement to Create and Maintain Simple and
Streamlined Process for Pre-Registration and Enrollment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
make enrollment in the patient enrollment system, including
pre-transition health care registration under section 1705B
of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a)(1), a simple and streamlined process for all
transitioning members of the Armed Forces and veterans--
(A) to facilitate access to and utilization of services
from the Department of Veterans Affairs to which such
individuals are entitled;
(B) to ensure such individuals have a healthy and smooth
transition out of the Armed Forces into civilian life as
veterans;
(C) to support the mental and physical health of such
individuals; and
(D) to reduce, to the greatest extent possible, veteran
suicide.
(2) Improvement of process.--The Secretary shall
continuously monitor, improve, and modernize the process
described in paragraph (1).
(e) Outreach and Engagement.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall--
(1) proactively conduct outreach to transitioning and
recently transitioned members of the Armed Forces to assist
such members in enrolling in the patient enrollment system;
(2) proactively and regularly engage with veterans already
enrolled in the patient enrollment system to offer assistance
in accessing health care services under such system;
(3) proactively and regularly engage with veterans who may
not be eligible for enrollment in the patient enrollment
system but may be eligible to access certain specific health
services of the Department;
(4) proactively engage with veterans from traditionally
under-represented groups, to include women veterans, minority
veterans, Native American veterans, Native Hawaiian veterans,
Alaska Native veterans, and LGBTQIA+ veterans; and
(5) engage with veterans who are eligible but not enrolled
in the patient enrollment system and offer information and
assistance regarding the steps to facilitate enrollment in
such system.
(f) Annual Report on Pre-Transition Registration.--Section
8111(f)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as
subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new
subparagraph (E):
``(E) With respect to the registration of members of the
Armed Forces in the pre-transition health care registration
system under section 1705B of this title during the preceding
fiscal year, the following:
``(i) The number of members of the Armed Forces who were
registered in such system.
``(ii) The number of such members who subsequently applied
for enrollment in the system of annual patient enrollment of
the Department established and operated under section 1705(a)
of this title.
``(iii) The aggregated disposition of each such application
for enrollment, whether denied or approved, and a reason for
any denial, if available.
``(iv) Aggregated demographic information for members of
the Armed Forces described in clauses (i) and (ii), including
age, gender, ethnicity, length of service, military rank, and
branch of service.
``(v) Any information on health care utilization rates
based on registration in the pre-transition health care
registration system under section 1705B of this title that
the Secretary considers relevant.
``(vi) Any additional observations or information the
Secretary considers relevant regarding the impact of pre-
transition health care registration on streamlining and
improving the transition from the Armed Forces to civilian
life.''.
(g) Reports.--
(1) Report on feasibility and advisability of permitting
members of the armed forces to receive pre-separation health
appointment with department of veterans affairs.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the
feasibility and advisability of permitting transitioning
members of the Armed Forces, including those on separation
leave, while still on active duty, to receive at least one
no-cost health care appointment at a facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs--
(i) to familiarize the member with the health services of
the Department prior to the member leaving the Armed Forces;
and
(ii) to improve the transition process and health and
wellness of the member once they have transitioned to
civilian life.
(B) Elements.--The report required under subparagraph (A)
shall include the following:
(i) A description of the reasons the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs has determined the policy described in such
subparagraph is feasible and advisable or not.
(ii) An identification of changes to law that would be
required or recommended to make such policy feasible and
advisable.
(iii) If the Secretary determines such policy is feasible
and advisable, a proposed schedule and timeline to implement
such policy and an estimate of costs to implement and sustain
such policy.
(iv) Such other information as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(2) Report on efforts to improve enrollment.--Not later
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report containing the following:
[[Page S2861]]
(A) An assessment of the efforts of the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs as follows:
(i) To develop and implement a system or systems, and
processes to implement such a system or systems, to notify
veterans who receive a positive adjudication for a service-
connected disability and are not already enrolled in the
patient enrollment system regarding how to enroll in the
patient enrollment system, should they be inclined to enroll.
(ii) To pre-populate information in the pre-transition
health care registration system required under section 1705B
of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a)(1), using data available within the Department of
Veterans Affairs, other Federal agencies, or State agencies
or other appropriate commercial or publicly available
information so as to assist transitioning members of the
Armed Forces with completing the process of enrollment in the
patient enrollment system, and to simplify and streamline
enrollment in such system, including--
(I) a description of any roadblocks to pre-populating such
information;
(II) a description of any challenges in receiving relevant
information from any Federal agency or State agency; and
(III) an identification of any legislative action that may
be required to improve the collection of data necessary to
carry out this clause.
(B) An assessment of any challenges experienced by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs in receiving timely and
reliable electronic information, data feeds, and
notifications from the Department of Defense, other Federal
agencies, or non-Federal entities regarding the separation
from the Armed Forces of members of the Armed Forces,
including--
(i) specific requests for legislative action to improve
data transmission from the Department of Defense or other
Federal agencies to the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
(ii) a description of policy reforms to require the
military departments to report to the Secretary of Defense
known or anticipated separations in a more timely manner.
(C) The identification of an individual in a Senior
Executive Service position (as defined in section 3132(a) of
title 5, United States Code), or equivalent, and office
within the Department of Veterans Affairs that is
coordinating or will coordinate all programs of the
Department relating to improving the registration and
enrollment of transitioning or transitioned members of the
Armed Forces in health care services of the Department
(including pursuant to this section and the amendments made
by this section) and the usage by such members of those
services, to include the following programs and offices:
(i) The Solid Start program of the Department under section
6320 of title 38, United States Code.
(ii) The Federal Recovery Consultant Office of the
Department.
(iii) The Post-9/11 Military2VA Case Management Program of
the Department.
(iv) The Liaison Program of the Department.
(v) The Concierge for Care Program of the Department.
(vi) The office of the Department responsible for carrying
out the pre-transition health care registration system under
section 1705B of title 38, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a)(1).
(vii) Other similar or successor programs or offices of the
Department.
(D) A description of how the individual and office
identified under subparagraph (C) manages or will manage
various programs across the Department, to include--
(i) programs under the Veterans Health Administration,
Veterans Benefits Administration, and other entities of the
Department that have different reporting chains;
(ii) an identification of metrics that are used or will be
used to monitor program goals;
(iii) an identification of steps that can be taken to
improve management and outcomes of such programs, to include
collaboration and coordination with relevant programs of the
Department of Defense; and
(iv) an organizational chart to show how efforts described
under this subparagraph are managed across the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section or the
amendments made by this section shall be construed to require
any member of the Armed Forces, former member of the Armed
Forces, or veteran to use any service of the Department of
Veterans Affairs or to enroll in the patient enrollment
system.
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Veterans Affairs' of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Veterans Affairs' of the House of Representatives.
(2) Patient enrollment system.--The term ``patient
enrollment system'' means the system of annual patient
enrollment of the Department established and operated under
section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code.
______