To require a report on the use of third-party contractors to conduct medical disability examinations of veterans.

SA 1131. Mrs. SHAHEEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 1092 submitted by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms.
Collins) and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 4366, making
appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2024, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:

At the appropriate place in division A, insert the
following:

SEC. ___. REPORT ON USE OF THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTORS TO CONDUCT
MEDICAL DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS.

(a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report on the use of third-party contractors to conduct
medical disability examinations of veterans for purposes of
obtaining compensation under laws administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(b) Contents.--The report submitted pursuant to subsection
(a) shall include the following:
(1) The number of contractors described in subsection (a)
in each State who are used as described in such subsection.
(2) The requirements for performance and quality in the
contracts governing the use described in subsection (a),
including qualifications contractors described in such
subsection are required meet for such uses.
(3) The average milage veterans described in subsection (a)
are required to travel to attend a contract medical
disability examination described in such subsection,
disaggregated by state;
(4) The number of veterans described in paragraph (3) who
are required to travel beyond the mileage requirement in a
contract described in paragraph (2).

[[Page S4418]]

(5) A description of the process at the Department for
handling complaints of veterans about the use of contractors
as described in subsection (a).
(c) Definition of Appropriate Committees of Congress.--In
this section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

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