II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 112 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for children 

of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 26, 2023 

Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. RUBIO, and Mr. BOOKER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina 

bifida, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN OF VIET4 NAM VETERANS AND CERTAIN OTHER VET5 ERANS. 

6 (a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1831 of title 38, United 

7 States Code, is amended— 

8 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 

9 paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and 


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1 (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol2 lowing new paragraphs: 

3 ‘‘(2) The term ‘covered child’ means a child 

4 who is eligible for health care and benefits under 

5 this chapter. 

6 ‘‘(3) The term ‘covered veteran’ means an indi7 vidual whose children are eligible for health care and 

8 benefits under this chapter.’’. 

9 (b) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter IV of chapter 18 of 

10 title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

11 end the following new sections: 

12 ‘‘§ 1835. Advisory council 

13 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish an 

14 advisory council on health care and benefits for covered 

15 children. 

16 ‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The advisory council estab17 lished under subsection (a) shall be composed of Federal 

18 employees. 

19 ‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The advisory council established 

20 under subsection (a) shall solicit feedback from covered 

21 children and covered veterans on the health care and bene22 fits provided under this chapter and communicate such 

23 feedback to the Secretary. 


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1 ‘‘§ 1836. Care and coordination teams 

2 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 

3 care and coordination teams for covered children. 

4 ‘‘(b) OUTREACH.—A care and coordination team es5 tablished under subsection (a) shall attempt to contact 

6 each covered child— 

7 ‘‘(1) not less frequently than once every 180 

8 days, to ensure the continued care of the child and 

9 assist with any changes in care needed due to a 

10 changed situation of the child; and 

11 ‘‘(2) as soon as practicable after the identifica12 tion of a condition listed in the report required by 

13 subsection (c). 

14 ‘‘(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 

15 date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 

16 submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen17 ate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 

18 of Representatives a report setting forth a list of condi19 tions that will trigger outreach to covered children under 

20 subsection (b)(2). 

21 ‘‘§ 1837. Duration of health care and benefits pro22 vided 

23 ‘‘The Secretary shall provide a covered child with 

24 health care and benefits under this chapter— 

25 ‘‘(1) for the duration of the life of the child; 

26 and 


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1 ‘‘(2) notwithstanding any death of a parent of 

2 the child that precedes the death of the child. 

3 ‘‘§ 1838. Biennial report 

4 ‘‘Not less frequently than once every two years, the 

5 Secretary shall submit to Congress a report setting forth 

6 the following: 

7 ‘‘(1) The number of covered children receiving 

8 health care or benefits under this chapter as of the 

9 date on which the report is submitted. 

10 ‘‘(2) The number of covered children for which 

11 the Department is paying for or providing a social 

12 worker as of such date. 

13 ‘‘(3) Metrics on outreach conducted under sec14 tion 1836(b) of this title.’’. 

15 (c) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—Not later 

16 than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

17 the Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of 

18 Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary for Health of 

19 the Department shall enter into a memorandum of under20 standing— 

21 (1) to better assist covered children (as defined 

22 in section 1831 of title 38, United States Code, as 

23 amended by subsection (a)); and 


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1 (2) to establish conditions to be included in the 

2 report required by section 1836(c) of title 38, 

3 United States Code, as added by subsection (b). 

4 (d) IMPLEMENTATION.— 

5 (1) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—Not later than 270 

6 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

7 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish the ad8 visory council required under section 1835 of title 

9 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (b). 

10 (2) CARE AND COORDINATION TEAMS.—Not 

11 later than one year after the date of the enactment 

12 of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

13 establish the care and coordination teams required 

14 under section 1836 of such title, as added by sub15 section (b). 

16 (e) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

17 at the beginning of chapter 18 of title 38, United States 

18 Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 

19 items: 

‘‘1835. Advisory council. 

‘‘1836. Care and coordination teams. 

‘‘1837. Duration of health care and benefits provided. 

‘‘1838. Biennial report.’’. 

Æ 


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