A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-2043
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-06-14
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs

Drug, alcohol, tobacco use

Government buildings, facilities, and property

Health facilities and institutions

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2021-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S4521)

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-06-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill prohibits smoking on the premises of any Veterans Health Administration facility. The bill defines smoking as the use of cigarettes, cigars, and pipes (i.e., the heating or combustion of tobacco), as well as the use of any electronic nicotine delivery system.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2043 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 14, 2021 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Ms. Collins , Mr. Carper , Mr. Brown , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Wyden , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Booker , Mr. Reed , Mr. Blumenthal , and Mr. Kaine ) 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 prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.

1. Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health Administration (a) Prohibition (1) In general Section 1715 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 1715. Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health Administration (a) Prohibition No person (including any veteran, patient, resident, employee of the Department, contractor, or visitor) may smoke on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) The term facility of the Veterans Health Administration means any land or building (including any medical center, nursing home, domiciliary facility, outpatient clinic, or center that provides readjustment counseling) that is— (A) under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs; (B) under the control of the Veterans Health Administration; and (C) not under the control of the General Services Administration. (2) The term smoke includes— (A) the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and any other combustion or heating of tobacco; and (B) the use of any electronic nicotine delivery system, including electronic or e-cigarettes, vape pens, and e-cigars. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter II of chapter 17 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1715 and inserting the following new item: 1715. Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health Administration. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 526 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 ( Public Law 102–585 ; 38 U.S.C. 1715 note) is repealed.