II 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 3372 

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 

DECEMBER 9, 2021 

Mr. BRAUN (for himself and Mr. RUBIO) 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) DUTIES.—The advisory council established 

17 under subsection (a) shall solicit feedback from covered 

18 children and covered veterans on the health care and bene19 fits provided under this chapter and communicate such 

20 feedback to the Secretary. 

21 ‘‘§ 1836. Care and coordination teams 

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

23 care and coordination teams for covered children. 


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1 ‘‘(b) OUTREACH.—A care and coordination team es2 tablished under subsection (a) shall contact each covered 

3 child— 

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

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

6 assist with any changes in care needed due to a 

7 changed situation of the child; and 

8 ‘‘(2) as soon as practicable after the identifica9 tion of a condition listed in the report required by 

10 subsection (c). 

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

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

13 submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen14 ate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 

15 of Representatives a report setting forth a list of condi16 tions that will trigger outreach to covered children under 

17 subsection (b)(2). 

18 ‘‘§ 1837. Duration of health care and benefits pro19 vided 

20 ‘‘The Secretary shall provide a covered child with 

21 health care and benefits under this chapter— 

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

23 and 

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

25 the child that precedes the death of the child.’’. 


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1 (c) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—Not later 

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

3 the Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of 

4 Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary for Health of 

5 the Department shall enter into a memorandum of under6 standing— 

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

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

9 amended by subsection (a)); and 

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

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

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

13 (d) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 90 days after 

14 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

15 Veterans Affairs shall establish— 

16 (1) the advisory council required under section 

17 1835 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 

18 subsection (b); and 

19 (2) the care and coordination teams required 

20 under section 1836 of such title, as so added. 

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

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

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

24 items: 

‘‘1835. Advisory council. 


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‘‘1836. Care and coordination teams. 

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

Æ 


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