S.Amdt. 398

SA 398. Mr. SCHATZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:

SEC. 1049. ACCESS OF VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR
SUPPORT OF PROVISION OF PRESEPARATION
COUNSELING AND RELATED BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF
THE ARMED FORCES.

(a) Access To Be Authorized.--
(1) In general.--Under regulations prescribed by the
Secretary of Defense for purposes of this section, commanders
of military installations in the United States shall permit
representatives of veterans service organization reasonable
and regular access to such military installations in order to
permit such representatives to support and facilitate efforts
of the Department of Defense to provide preseparation
counseling and related benefits under chapter 58 of title 10,
United States Code, to members of the Armed Forces stationed
at such installations.
(2) Scope of access.--Any access to an installation under
this subsection shall occur only in a manner fully consistent
with the maintenance of security and safety at such
installation.
(b) Veterans Service Organizations.--For purposes of this
section, veterans service organizations are organizations
recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant to
section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
(c) Regulations.--In prescribing regulations for purposes
of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall avoid the
following:
(1) The recommendation or endorsement of a particular
veterans service organization over another veterans service
organization in the support or facilitation of efforts
described in subsection (a).
(2) The encouragement, support, or other suggestion that a
member of the Armed Forces seek membership in a veterans
service organization.
(d) Commencement of Access.--Access to installations under
this section shall commence upon the date specified by the
Secretary of Defense in the regulations prescribed for
purposes of this section, which date shall be not later than
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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