Vaccines for Veterans Act

Bill: 117-hr-1114
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Crist, Charlie [D-FL-13]
Introduced: 2021-02-18
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health facilities and institutions

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases

State and local government operations

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-18
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Vaccines for Veterans Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine during the COVID-19 emergency period to veterans who were discharged from service under honorable conditions, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the VA health care system or are otherwise eligible to receive VA health care.</p> <p>Under the bill, the directors of VA medical facilities are authorized to determine priorities among eligible veterans to receive vaccines in accordance with state guidelines.</p> <p>The VA must coordinate with various entities (e.g., the Department of Defense) to determine whether an individual seeking to receive a vaccine meets the requirements set forth in this bill and the relevant prioritization for such individual.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1114 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 18, 2021 Mr. Crist introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide COVID–19 vaccines to an expanded population of veterans during a covered emergency period, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Vaccines for Veterans Act . 2. COVID–19 vaccines for expanded population of veterans during covered emergency period (a) COVID–19 vaccines (1) In general Subject to the availability of appropriations, during a covered emergency period, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may furnish the COVID–19 vaccine to any veteran who was discharged from service in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions without regard to whether the veteran is enrolled in the annual patient enrollment system under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, or otherwise eligible to receive health care services under chapter 17 of such title. (2) State guidelines In furnishing COVID–19 vaccines pursuant to paragraph (1), each director of a Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility may determine priorities among veterans eligible to receive COVID–19 vaccines in accordance with guidelines established by the State in which the facility is located. (b) Coordination (1) In general In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall coordinate with the entities described in paragraph (2), as appropriate, to determine— (A) whether an individual seeking to receive a COVID–19 vaccine pursuant this section meets the requirements of subsection (a)(1); and (B) the relevant prioritization for such individual, in accordance with subsection (a)(2). (2) Coordinating entities The entities described in this paragraph are the following: (A) The Secretary of Defense. (B) The Secretary of Health and Human Services. (C) The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (D) The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (E) The heads of State departments of health (or related agencies). (F) Any other Federal agency determined relevant by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered emergency period means a period beginning on the date on which a President declares a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) and ending on the date that is 30 days after the date on which such national emergency declaration terminates. (2) The term covered medical condition means a medical condition determined by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be high risk with respect to COVID–19. (3) The term COVID–19 vaccine means any vaccine approved or authorized by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs for COVID–19. (4) The term State includes each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each territory or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.