Section 303 Would provide that the functions and authorities assigned to the CMD by any provision of this title of the Committee bill or by any amendment made by this title may not be delegated by the CMD nor exercised by any other official. TABULATION OF VOTES CAST IN COMMITTEE In compliance with paragraph 7 of the rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following is a tabulation of votes cast in person or in proxy by members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs at its July 31, 1987, meeting in connection with S. 1464. The Committee unanimously agreed to report S. 1464, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, favorably to the Senate by a vote of 11-0, as follows: YEAS-11 Alan Cranston Spark M. Matsunaga Dennis DeConcini George J. Mitchell John D. Rockefeller IV Bob Graham Frank M. Murkowski Alan K. Simpson NAYS-0 During the Committee's consideration of S. 1464, an amendment by Senator Murkowski to strike the provisions of title III, relating to the readjustment counseling program for Vietnam-era veterans, and substitute therefor provisions which would have provided for a one-year postponement, from October 1, 1987, to October 1, 1988, of the date by which the program is required to begin a 2-year transition from a program providing services primarily through Vet Centers to one providing services primarily through the VA's general health-care facilities, was defeated by a vote of 5-6, as follows: On August 7, 1987, the Department of Defense submitted to the Committee of Veterans' Affairs a letter setting forth the Department's views of S. 1501 (from which title III of S. 1464 as reported was derived) which is reprinted below. On September 28, 1987, the Department of Transportation submitted to the Committee a letter setting forth the Department's views on S. 1464 as introduced (from which title I of S. 1464 as reported was derived) which is reprinted below. By letters dated July 7, 1987, the Committee requested the Veterans' Administration's view on S. 1443, S. 1444, and S. 1464. By the date on which this report was filed, the VA had not submitted any agency reports on those measures. This letter presents the views of the Department of Defense with respect to Section 3 of S.1501, 100th Congress, a bill to amend Title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the requirement that the Administrator of Veterans Affairs carry out a transition under which community based Vet Centers would be moved to Veterans Administration medical facilities, and for other purposes. Section 3 of S.1501 would establish authority for the Veterans Administration to furnish psychological counseling to active duty military personnel who had served on active duty during the Vietnam era or during a period of hostilities. By permitting the Veterans Administration to furnish counseling to assist such persons in "readjusting to active duty" following such service, S.1501 circumvents the primary goal of the Military Health Care System which is to maintain the medical (including psychological) readiness of the active duty force. The Department of Defense is strongly opposed to the readjustment counseling program provisions of Section 3 as they pertain to active duty personnel. The Department of Defense operates a comprehensive health care system which provides quality psychological counseling to all active duty personnel in need of such care. Further, it is imperative that the Department remain fully cognizant of the psychological status of its active duty personnel. The Military Health Services System (MHSS) maintains a medical record on every active duty person that is annotated each time this member seeks care. By retaining responsibility for providing medical care to all active duty personnel, the MHSS ensures that a complete record of each individual's medical and psychological history is maintained. These records form the basis for medical opinions concerning flight status, fitness for duty, security clearances, and a host of other equally important medical readiness determinations. Should these records be incomplete because medical treatment was provided by another agency, one of these determinations could be fatally flawed. Accordingly, the Department is opposed to this provision of S.1501 and any provision that would permit the Veterans Administration to provide medical or psychological care to an active duty member except under a formal VA/DOD Sharing Agreement entered into under P.L. 97-174. The Administration continues to support taking advantage of mutually beneficial opportunities for sharing health care resources in accordance with the Sharing Act. The Office of Management and Budget advises that, from the standpoint of the Administration's program, there is no objection to the presentation of this report for the consideration of the Committee. Secretary Dole asked that I respond to your July 8, 1987, request for the Department of Transportation's views concerning S. 1464, the "Veterans Beneficiary Travel Reimbursement Restoration Act of 1987". The bill would amend Section 111 of title 38, United States Code, which addresses the matter of payment of travel expenses of Veterans Administration (VA) beneficiaries in great detail. This Department defers to the Veterans Administration on the merits of the proposed amendments. One element of the proposed amendments directs the VA Administrator, "in consultation and coordination with the Secretary of Transportation" and others, to facilitate establishment of a program by which beneficiary travel services could be volunteered at no cost to the government. While we believe the VA is fully capable of addressing this matter without this Department's involvement, we do not object to playing an appropriate role. We would note that other provisions of Section 111 establish a Department of Transportation consultation role, but not a "consultation and coordination" role. We do not believe coordination of any such voluntary service program with the Department would be necessary. The Office of Management and Budget advises that, from the standpoint of the Administration's program, there is no objection to the submission of this report for the consideration of the Committee. Sincerely, B. Was ne Vance |