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.

Bill: 118-s-112
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Birth defects
Conflicts and wars
Military personnel and dependents
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 
This bill addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and care for certain children with spina bifida or other birth defects. The bill requires the VA to provide health care, job training, and monetary benefits for the duration of the child's life. The bills covers a child, regardless of age or marital status, who: (1) has spina bifida and is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran or a veteran of specified service in Korea or Thailand who was conceived after the date on which the veteran entered service in Vietnam, Korea, or Thailand; or (2) has certain birth defects and is the natural child of a woman Vietnam veteran.

 
The bill requires the VA to establish an advisory council on health care and benefits for covered children. Additionally, the VA must establish care and coordination teams for covered children. At least every 180 days, the teams must conduct outreach to ensure the continued care of the children and assist with any necessary changes in care. 
 
The VA must report to Congress a list of conditions that will trigger outreach to covered children, and must attempt to contact such children as soon as practicable after the identification of a condition.
 
The Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration must enter into a memorandum of understanding to better assist covered children.

action_date: 2023-06-14
text: 
This bill addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and care for certain children with spina bifida or other birth defects. The bill requires the VA to provide health care, job training, and monetary benefits for the duration of the child's life. The bill covers a child, regardless of age or marital status, who (1) has spina bifida and is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran or a veteran of specified service in Korea or Thailand who was conceived after the date on which the veteran entered service in Vietnam, Korea, or Thailand; or (2) has certain birth defects and is the natural child of a woman Vietnam veteran.
 
The bill requires the VA to establish an advisory council on health care and benefits for covered children. Additionally, the VA must establish care and coordination teams for covered children. At least every 180 days, the teams must conduct outreach to ensure the continued care of the children and assist with any necessary changes in care. 
 
The VA must report to Congress a list of conditions that will trigger outreach to covered children and must attempt to contact such children as soon as practicable after the identification of a condition.
 
The Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration must enter into a memorandum of understanding to better assist covered children.

action_date: 2023-07-13
text: 
This bill addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and care for certain children with spina bifida or other birth defects. The bill requires the VA to provide health care, job training, and monetary benefits for the duration of the child's life. The bill covers a child, regardless of age or marital status, who (1) has spina bifida and is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran or a veteran of specified service in Korea or Thailand who was conceived after the date on which the veteran entered service in Vietnam, Korea, or Thailand; or (2) has certain birth defects and is the natural child of a woman Vietnam veteran.
 
The bill requires the VA to establish an advisory council on health care and benefits for covered children. Additionally, the VA must establish care and coordination teams for covered children. At least every 180 days, the teams must conduct outreach to ensure the continued care of the children and assist with any necessary changes in care. 
 
The VA must report to Congress a list of conditions that will trigger outreach to covered children and must attempt to contact such children as soon as practicable after the identification of a condition.
 
The Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration must enter into a memorandum of understanding to better assist covered children.

action_date: 2023-09-19
text: 
This bill addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and care for certain children with spina bifida or other birth defects. The bill requires the VA to provide health care, job training, and monetary benefits for the duration of the child's life. The bill covers a child, regardless of age or marital status, who (1) has spina bifida and is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran or a veteran of specified service in Korea or Thailand who was conceived after the date on which the veteran entered service in Vietnam, Korea, or Thailand; or (2) has certain birth defects and is the natural child of a woman Vietnam veteran.
 
The bill requires the VA to establish an advisory council on health care and benefits for covered children. Additionally, the VA must establish care and coordination teams for covered children. At least every 180 days, the teams must conduct outreach to ensure the continued care of the children and assist with any necessary changes in care. 
 
The VA must report to Congress a list of conditions that will trigger outreach to covered children and must attempt to contact such children as soon as practicable after the identification of a condition.
 
The Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration must enter into a memorandum of understanding to better assist covered children.

action_date: 2023-10-06
text: 
This act addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and care for certain children with spina bifida or other birth defects. The act requires the VA to provide health care, job training, and monetary benefits for the duration of the child's life. The act covers a child, regardless of age or marital status, who (1) has spina bifida and is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran or a veteran of specified service in Korea or Thailand who was conceived after the date on which the veteran entered service in Vietnam, Korea, or Thailand; or (2) has certain birth defects and is the natural child of a woman Vietnam veteran.
 
The act requires the VA to establish an advisory council on health care and benefits for covered children. Additionally, the VA must establish care and coordination teams for covered children. At least every 180 days, the teams must conduct outreach to ensure the continued care of the children and assist with any necessary changes in care. 
 
The VA must report to Congress a list of conditions that will trigger outreach to covered children and must attempt to contact such children as soon as practicable after the identification of a condition.
 
The Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration must enter into a memorandum of understanding to better assist covered children.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-10-06
text: Became Public Law No: 118-18.
action_date: 2023-10-06
text: Became Public Law No: 118-18.
action_date: 2023-10-06
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2023-10-06
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2023-10-04
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2023-10-04
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2023-09-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2023-09-19
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 0 (Roll no. 399). (text: 9/18/2023 CR H4361-4362)
action_date: 2023-09-19
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 0 (Roll no. 399). (text: 9/18/2023 CR H4361-4362)
action_date: 2023-09-19
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4404-4405)
action_date: 2023-09-18
text: At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Bost objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
action_date: 2023-09-18
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 112.
action_date: 2023-09-18
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4361-4362)
action_date: 2023-09-18
text: Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2023-07-18
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2023-07-18
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2023-07-18
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2023-07-13
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2963; text: CR S2963-2964)
action_date: 2023-07-13
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2963; text: CR S2963-2964)
action_date: 2023-06-14
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 101.
action_date: 2023-06-14
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-06-14
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-02-16
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 118-18