Veterans Benefits and Health Care Act of 1989

Summary

Veterans Benefits and Health Care Act of 1989 - Title I: Compensation and Other Benefits - Part A: Cost-of-Living Adjustments - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the following: (1) the rates of, and limitations on, Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation; and (2) rates of certain disability compensation that were increased to coincide with benefit increases under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Authorizes rate increases or increased allowance for the following: (1) rehabilitation subsistence allowances for veterans with service-connected disabilities; and (2) educational assistance for veterans' survivors and dependents. Part B: Other Benefits Provisions - Expands the eligibility for a veterans' clothing allowance to authorize such allowance for veterans who, because of a compensable disability, use medication for a service-connected skin condition which stains or damages such veteran's clothing. Increases the monthly pension payments authorized for veterans being furnished domiciliary care in a Department facility. Extends the period authorized for payment of full pension benefits for veterans being furnished hospital or nursing home care by the Department. Authorizes the Secretary to extend the period during which such a veteran's pension is not reduced in specified circumstances. Limits such extensions. Extends through 1991 the authority for veterans' readjustment appointments within the Federal Government for eligible veterans of the Vietnam era. Part C: Program Administration - Expands the authority for multiyear contract procurement to include the procurement of non-medical items within the Department. Title II: Health Care - Part A: Programs Relating to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Mental Health - Authorizes the provision of health care and services for: (1) veterans who served on active duty during World War I or II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Era, or in any other area during a period in which hostilities occurred; and (2) veterans whom a mental health professional designated by the Chief Medical Director has diagnosed to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder related to such service. Directs the Special Committee on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to submit to the Secretary and the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees no later than June 1, 1989, a report on the Committee's evaluation of the results of a study required under the Veteran's Health Care Amendments of 1983 relating to the diagnosis and treatment of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Directs the Secretary to comment to the veterans' committees concerning such report. Requires the Committee to update certain reports required of the Committee under the Veterans' Health Care Act of 1984 and requires the Secretary to comment to the veterans' committees concerning such updates. Directs the Secretary to provide for the conduct of a study of the psychological problems among Asian-American, American-Indian, Native-Hawaiian, other Native-American Pacific Islander, and Alaska Native Vietnam veterans. Directs the Secretary to study particularly such veterans who have service-connected disabilities and women veterans. Requires a report from the Secretary to the veterans' committees on such study. Directs the Secretary, in certain papers required to be submitted to the President annually, to identify the amounts in the appropriations requests for the VA that are estimated to be obligated for payments and treatments for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and for education, training, research, and the operation of the National Center on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Part B: Other Health-Care Programs - Includes within the definition of "medical services" for coverage under Federal veterans' benefits' provisions services to achieve pregnancy in a veteran or a veteran's spouse when such services are necessary to overcome a service-connected disability impairing the veteran's procreative ability. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with an element of the Department or any other Federal entity to provide for therapeutic work for patients and members in Department health-care facilities. (Currently, the Secretary may contract with private industry or other sources outside the Department.) Extends through FY 1992 the authorization of appropriations to assist States in the construction of State nursing home facilities. Directs the Secretary, during FY 1990 through 1993, to conduct a pilot program for providing assistive animals to aid veterans in the performance of daily living tasks which they are unable to perform due to certain disabilities or handicaps. Outlines administrative provisions and requires reports from the Secretary to the veterans' committees concerning such program. Directs the Secretary, during FY 1990 through 1993, to conduct a pilot program for furnishing signal dogs to not more than 20 veterans who have service-connected hearing impairments and are in need of the assistance of such dogs. Provides that the Secretary is not required to conduct such pilot program if the provision of such dogs to such veterans is currently authorized. Outlines administrative provisions and requires reports from the Secretary to the veterans' committees concerning such program. Part C: Health-Care Administration - Requires the Assistant Secretary for the Department who is assigned management, productivity, and logistic support functions to be responsible for the functional and technical supervision of the performance of security and law enforcement functions within the Department. Directs the Secretary to report to the veterans' committees concerning certain security and law enforcement matters. Includes health-care facilities in a provision authorizing the sharing of specialized medical resources with medical schools, hospitals, and medical research centers. Revises the authority to share specialized medical resources. Includes coverage of Veterans Health Services and Research Administration personnel under Federal employees' collective bargaining rights and procedures. Revises provisions concerning disciplinary actions and grievances within the Department's Veterans Health Services and Research Administration. Directs the Secretary to establish a task force to recommend policies and legislation for the elimination of inconsistencies among provisions of law relating to veterans' eligibility for certain health-care benefits. Directs the Secretary to review the report submitted by the task force and either approve the recommendations for legislation contained therein or prepare alternative legislative proposals appropriate for the elimination of the inconsistencies identified by the task force. Requires a report from the Secretary to the veterans' committees concerning the recommendation of such legislative proposals.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 25 January 1989

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 25 January 1989

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 2 March 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Veterans requested executive comment from the Veterans' Administrationand Office of Management and Budget.

   Source: Committee

4. 18 May 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Veterans. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 101-443.

   Source: Committee

5. 9 June 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Veterans. Hearings held on Title I. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 101-469.

   Source: Committee

6. 14 June 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Veterans. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 101-466.

   Source: Committee

7. 22 June 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Veterans. Hearings held on Section 221. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 101-473.

   Source: Committee

8. 27 July 1989

   Reported

   Committee on Veterans incorporated provisions of related measures S. 192, S. 405, S. 846, S. 86, S. 748, S. 574, S. 1004, S. 1306, S. 947, S. 899, S. 1211, S. 109, S. 1279, S. 1003, S. 1092, S. 1158, S. 898, S. 1141, S. 1147, S. 1315 in reported measure.

   Source: Committee

9. 10 August 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Veterans received executive comment from Department of Veterans Affairs.

   Source: Committee

10. 13 September 1989

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 234.

    Source: Calendars

11. 13 September 1989

    Reported

    Committee on Veterans. Reported to Senate by Senator Cranston with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 101-126. Additional views filed.

    Source: Committee

12. 13 September 1989

    Reported

    Committee on Veterans. Reported to Senate by Senator Cranston with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 101-126. Additional views filed.

    Source: Committee

13. 3 October 1989

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

    Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · — · Download file
• Reported to Senate · — · Download file

Documents

5 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN

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• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN

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• Indefinitely postponed in Senate

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• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 13 September 1989

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  Vertaal document

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 25 January 1989

  Open at official source

  Leesvertaling

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  Vertaal naarNL · DutchDE · GermanFR · FrenchES · SpanishIT · ItalianPL · PolishPT · PortugueseSV · SwedishDA · DanishFI · FinnishEL · GreekCS · CzechHU · HungarianRO · RomanianBG · BulgarianHR · CroatianSK · SlovakSL · SlovenianLT · LithuanianLV · LatvianET · EstonianGA · IrishMT · Maltese

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Sponsors

• Sen. Cranston, Alan [D-CA] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Matsunaga, Spark M. [D-HI] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Mitchell, George J. [D-ME] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Burdick, Quentin N. [D-ND] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D · Cosponsor
• · ssva00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Veterans' Benefits Amendments of 1989
• related to → A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the capability of the Department of Veterans Affairs health-care facilities to provide the most effective and appropriate services possible to veterans suffering from mental illness, especially conditions which are service-related, through the designation of up to five of its facilities as centers of mental illness research, education, and clinical activities and for other purposes.
• related to → A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct of a comprehensive study of the psychological problems of Native Americans who are Vietnam veterans.
• related to ← A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of incentive special pay to Department of Veterans Affairs psychologists who obtain certain board certification in a professional specialty.
• related to ← A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a program providing community-based residential treatment for homeless chronically mentally ill veterans and to authorize the inclusion of certain other chronically ill veterans in such program, and for other purposes.
• related to ← Veterans Health-Care Program Improvements Amendments of 1989
• related to ← A bill to provide for an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be responsible for monitoring and promoting the access of members of minority groups, including women, to service and benefits furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• related to ← Department of Veterans' Affairs Health Care Programs Extension Act of 1989
• related to ← Veterans Compensated Work Therapy Program Improvements Act of 1989
• related to ← Veterans' Housing Amendments Act of 1989
• related to ← A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and conduct, for five years, a leave sharing program for medical emergencies of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are subject to section 4108 of title 38, United States Code.

Showing 11 of 29 related records.