United States 116th Congress ✓ Enacted · P.L. 116-278 1 D cosponsors

S 2216 — TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act

Last action — Became Public Law No: 116-278.

  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 July 23, 2019. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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Prognosis

Advancing 52% · moderate confidence

  • 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 D).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Transparency and Effective Accountability Measures for Veteran Caregivers Act or the TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act The bill revises the administration of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) caregiver programs. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to report on the feasibility and advisability of formally recognizing caregivers of veterans by identifying them in the veteran's electronic health record. Such caregivers covered by the bill include those approved as a provider of personal care services under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and those participating in the Program of General Caregiver Support Services. If the VA determines that formally recognizing caregivers is feasible and advisable, it must implement recognition. The bill requires the VA to use standardized letters to notify veterans, their caregivers, and applicants for the program regarding decisions affecting the furnishing of assistance under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. Such notifications must contain specified details regarding the decision. The bill also authorizes the VA to extend benefits for a 90-day period under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, including the monthly personal caregiver stipend, after determining that a veteran is no longer eligible for the program solely because of improvement in their condition. The effective date of discharge from the program shall not be earlier than 60 days after the date on which the VA provides notice of the lack of eligibility.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

70 added · 75 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment adds clarity regarding the recognition of all caregivers of veterans by specifying that it includes any family caregiver approved as a provider of personal care services under existing caregiver support programs. This change helps define who qualifies for formal recognition within the electronic health records of veterans. The practical effect is that it reinforces the inclusion of family caregivers in official documentation, potentially enhancing their visibility and support within the veteran care system.

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[Congressional Bills 116th Congress] [From the U.S.
[116th Congress Public Law 278] [From the U.S.
Government Publishing Office] [S.
Government Publishing Office] [[Page 134 STAT.
2216 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
3373]] Public Law 116-278 116th Congress An Act To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical determinations relating to eligibility for the family caregiver program, and temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family caregiver program, and for other purposes.
2216 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical determinations relating to eligibility for the family caregiver program, and temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family caregiver program, 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.
Dec.
SHORT TITLE.
31, 2020 - [S.
2216]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE:
Transparency and Effective Accountability Measures for Veteran Caregivers Act.>> SECTION 1.
<<NOTE:
38 USC 101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
(a) Formal Recognition of Caregivers.-- (1) Report.-- (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 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 regarding the feasibility and advisability of formally recognizing all caregivers of veterans by identifying any caregiver of a veteran in the electronic health record of the veteran.
(a) <<NOTE:
38 USC 1720G note.>> Formal Recognition of Caregivers.-- (1) Report.-- (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 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 regarding the feasibility and advisability of formally recognizing all caregivers of veterans by identifying any caregiver of a veteran in the electronic health record of the veteran.
(2) Implementation.--If the Secretary determines that formally recognizing all caregivers of veterans as described in paragraph (1)(A) is feasible and advisable, the Secretary shall implement such recognition in accordance with the timeline included in the report required by such paragraph.
(2) Implementation.--If the Secretary determines that formally recognizing all caregivers of veterans as described in paragraph (1)(A) is feasible and advisable, the Secretary shall [[Page 134 STAT.
3374]] implement such recognition in accordance with the timeline included in the report required by such paragraph.
``(B) A notification provided under subparagraph (A) shall include the elements required for notices of decisions under section 5104(b) of this title to the extent that those elements apply to such notification, unless, not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of the Transparency and Effective Accountability Measures for Veteran Caregivers Act, the Secretary determines that it would not be feasible to include such elements in such notifications and submits to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report setting forth the reasons for such determination.
``(B) <<NOTE:
Reports.>> A notification provided under subparagraph (A) shall include the elements required for notices of decisions under section 5104(b) of this title to the extent that those elements apply to such notification, unless, not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of the Transparency and Effective Accountability Measures for Veteran Caregivers Act, the Secretary determines that it would not be feasible to include such elements in such notifications and submits to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report setting forth the reasons for such determination.
``(13)(A) If the Secretary determines that a veteran receiving services under the program established under paragraph (1) is no longer eligible for such program solely because of improvement in the condition of the veteran-- ``(i) the effective date of discharge of the veteran from the program shall be not earlier than the date that is 60 days after the date on which the Secretary provides notice of such lack of eligibility under paragraph (12)(A) to the relevant individuals described in paragraph (12)(C);
``(13)(A) If the Secretary determines that a veteran receiving services under the program established under paragraph (1) is no longer eligible for such program solely because of improvement in the condition of the veteran-- ``(i) <<NOTE:
and ``(ii) the Secretary shall extend benefits under the program established under paragraph (1) for a family caregiver of the veteran described in paragraph (12)(C)(iii), including stipends under paragraph (3)(A)(ii)(V), if such an extension is determined appropriate by the Secretary, for a 90-day period following discharge of the veteran from the program.
Effective date.>> the effective date of discharge of the veteran from the program shall be not earlier than the date that is 60 days after the date on which the Secretary provides notice of such lack of eligibility under paragraph (12)(A) to the relevant individuals described in paragraph (12)(C);
and ``(ii) <<NOTE:
Time period.>> the Secretary shall extend benefits under the program established under paragraph (1) for a family caregiver of the veteran described in paragraph (12)(C)(iii), including stipends under paragraph (3)(A)(ii)(V), if such an extension is determined appropriate by the Secretary, for a 90-day period following discharge of the veteran from the program.
or ``(ii) to provide advance notice and extended benefits under the program, as appropriate, if another basis for discharge of a veteran described in subclause (I) of clause (i) or revocation of a designation described in subclause (II) of such clause applies.''.
or [[Page 134 STAT.
Passed the Senate November 17, 2020.
3375]] ``(ii) to provide advance notice and extended benefits under the program, as appropriate, if another basis for discharge of a veteran described in subclause (I) of clause (i) or revocation of a designation described in subclause (II) of such clause applies.''.
Attest:
Approved December 31, 2020.
Secretary.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S.
116th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
2216:
2216 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical determinations relating to eligibility for the family caregiver program, and temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family caregiver program, and for other purposes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol.
166 (2020):
Nov.
17, considered and passed Senate.
Dec.
16, considered and passed House.
<all>
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Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

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

  3. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  4. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.

  5. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.

  6. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 540.

  7. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7044-7045)

  8. The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (CR S7044)

  9. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7044-7045)

  10. Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7044-7045)

  11. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  12. Received in the House.

  13. Held at the desk.

  14. Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  15. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7211-7213)

  16. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2216.

  17. At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  18. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7224-7225)

  19. 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): 380 - 0 (Roll no. 244).(text: CR H7211)

  20. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 380 - 0 (Roll no. 244). (text: CR H7211)

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

  22. Presented to President.

  23. Presented to President.

  24. Signed by President.

  25. Signed by President.

  26. Became Public Law No: 116-278.

  27. Became Public Law No: 116-278.

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.

Show all 546 →

"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 2216 do?
Transparency and Effective Accountability Measures for Veteran Caregivers Act or the TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act The bill revises the administration of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) caregiver programs. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to report on the feasibility and advisability of formally recognizing caregivers of veterans by identifying them in the veteran's electronic health record. Such caregivers covered by the bill include those approved as a provider of personal care services under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and those participating in the Program of General Caregiver Support Services. If the VA determines that formally recognizing caregivers is feasible and advisable, it must implement recognition. The bill requires the VA to use standardized letters to notify veterans, their caregivers, and applicants for the program regarding decisions affecting the furnishing of assistance under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. Such notifications must contain specified details regarding the decision. The bill also authorizes the VA to extend benefits for a 90-day period under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, including the monthly personal caregiver stipend, after determining that a veteran is no longer eligible for the program solely because of improvement in their condition. The effective date of discharge from the program shall not be earlier than 60 days after the date on which the VA provides notice of the lack of eligibility.
Who sponsors S 2216?
S 2216 is sponsored by Peters, Gary C. (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 2216?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced July 23, 2019. Enacted.
Where can I track S 2216?
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