[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 548 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 548
To improve mental health programs for veterans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 6, 2003
Mr. Rockefeller introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve mental health programs for veterans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR COUNSELING AND TREATMENT OF VETERANS
FOR SEXUAL TRAUMA.
Section 1720D of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``During the
period through December 31, 2004, the Secretary'' and
inserting ``The Secretary''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``, during the
period through December 31, 2004,''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``establishment
and''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``establishing a
program'' and inserting ``operating a program''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO OPERATE ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
CENTERS FOR MENTAL ILLNESS RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND
CLINICAL ACTIVITIES.
Section 7320(b)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``five centers'' and inserting ``15 centers''.
SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENT OF PROGRAM FOR PROVISION OF SPECIALIZED MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES TO VETERANS.
(a) Increase in Funding.--Subsection (c) of section 116 of the
Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act (Public Law 106-117;
113 Stat. 1559; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$15,000,000'' and
inserting ``$25,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2004, 2005, and
2006'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$15,000,000'' and
inserting ``$25,000,000''; and
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(3)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, in fiscal years 2004, 2005,
and 2006, the fiscal year utilized to determine the baseline amount
shall be fiscal year 2003.''.
(b) Allocation of Funds.--Subsection (d) of that section is
amended--
(1) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``(1) In
each of fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006, the Secretary''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(2) In allocating funds to facilities in a fiscal year under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that--
``(A) not less than $10,000,000 is allocated by direct
grants to programs that are identified by the Mental Health
Strategic Health Care Group and the Committee on Care of
Severely Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans;
``(B) not less than $5,000,000 is allocated for programs on
post-traumatic stress disorder; and
``(C) not less than $5,000,000 is allocated for programs on
substance abuse disorder.
``(3) The Secretary shall provide that the funds to be allocated
under this section during each of fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006 are
funds for a special purpose program for which funds are not allocated
through the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation system.''.
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