United States 118th Congress ✓ Enacted · P.L. 118-18 1 R cosponsors

S 112 — 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.

Last action — Became Public Law No: 118-18.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 26, 2023. Enacted.

Prognosis

Advancing 52% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

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.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

66 added · 67 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment adds new sections 1835 and 1836 to establish an advisory council and care coordination teams specifically for covered children. The advisory council will provide a platform for feedback from covered children and veterans on health care and benefits, ensuring that the Secretary receives this input. The care coordination teams are intended to support the ongoing care of covered children. These changes matter because they create structured means for communication and support regarding health care needs for eligible children.

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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress] [From the U.S.
[118th Congress Public Law 18] [From the U.S.
Government Publishing Office] [S.
Government Publishing Office] [[Page 137 STAT.
112 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
103]] Public Law 118-18 118th Congress An Act To amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and for other purposes.
112 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and for other purposes.
<<NOTE:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
Oct.
6, 2023 - [S.
112]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
Advisory council ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory council on health care and benefits for covered children.
<<NOTE:
38 USC 1835.>> Advisory council ``(a) <<NOTE:
Establishment.>> In General.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory council on health care and benefits for covered children.
Care and coordination teams ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish care and coordination teams for covered children.
<<NOTE:
``(b) Outreach.--A care and coordination team established under subsection (a) shall attempt to contact each covered child-- ``(1) not less frequently than once every 180 days, to ensure the continued care of the child and assist with any changes in care needed due to a changed situation of the child;
38 USC 1836.>> Care and coordination teams ``(a) <<NOTE:
Establishment.>> In General.--The Secretary shall establish care and coordination teams for covered children.
``(b) Outreach.--A care and coordination team established under subsection (a) shall attempt to contact each covered child-- ``(1) <<NOTE:
Time period.>> not less frequently than once every 180 days, to ensure the continued care of the child and assist with any changes in care needed due to a changed situation of the child;
``(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report setting forth a list of conditions that will trigger outreach to covered children under subsection (b)(2).
[[Page 137 STAT.
104]] ``(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report setting forth a list of conditions that will trigger outreach to covered children under subsection (b)(2).
Duration of health care and benefits provided ``The Secretary shall provide a covered child with health care and benefits under this chapter-- ``(1) for the duration of the life of the child;
<<NOTE:
38 USC 1837.>> Duration of health care and benefits provided ``The Secretary shall provide a covered child with health care and benefits under this chapter-- ``(1) for the duration of the life of the child;
Biennial report ``Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report setting forth the following:
<<NOTE:
38 USC 1838.>> Biennial report ``Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report setting forth the following:
(c) Memorandum of Understanding.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary for Health of the Department shall enter into a memorandum of understanding-- (1) to better assist covered children (as defined in section 1831 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a));
(c) <<NOTE:
38 USC 1831 note.>> Memorandum of Understanding.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary for Health of the Department shall enter into a memorandum of understanding-- (1) to better assist covered children (as defined in section of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a));
(d) Implementation.-- (1) Advisory council.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish the advisory council required under section 1835 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (b).
(d) Implementation.-- (1) <<NOTE:
(2) Care and coordination teams.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish the care and coordination teams required under section 1836 of such title, as added by subsection (b).
Deadline.
(e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 18 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new items:
38 USC 1835 note.>> Advisory council.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish the advisory council required under section 1835 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (b).
(2) <<NOTE:
38 USC 1836 note.>> Care and coordination teams.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish the care and coordination teams required under section 1836 of such title, as added by subsection (b).
[[Page 137 STAT.
105]] (e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 18 of title 38, United States Code, <<NOTE:
38 USC prec.
1801.>> is amended by adding at the end the following new items:
Passed the Senate July 13, 2023.
Approved October 6, 2023.
Attest:
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S.
Secretary.
112:
118th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol.
112 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and for other purposes.
169 (2023):
July 13, considered and passed Senate.
Sept.
18, 19, considered and passed House.
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Action History

  1. Signed by President.

  2. Signed by President.

  3. Became Public Law No: 118-18.

  4. Became Public Law No: 118-18.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4404-4405)

  8. 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)

  9. 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)

  10. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  11. Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  12. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4361-4362)

  13. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 112.

  14. 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.

  15. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  16. Received in the House.

  17. Held at the desk.

  18. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2963; text: CR S2963-2964)

  19. Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2963; text: CR S2963-2964)

  20. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester without amendment. Without written report.

  21. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester without amendment. Without written report.

  22. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 101.

  23. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  24. Introduced in Senate

  25. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

veterans
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S 112 do?
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.
Who sponsors S 112?
S 112 is sponsored by Braun, Mike (Republican).
What is the current status of S 112?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 26, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track S 112?
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