SENATE PASSED PROVISIONS NOT INCLUDED IN

THE COMPROMISE AGREEMENT

Mr. President, as I noted earlier, in reaching the agreement embodied in the compromise agreement, we were unable to reach agreement on a number of provisions that were passed by either the House or Senate but not by the other body. I wish to comment on a few of the Senate passed provisions that are not included in the compromise agreement.

READJUSTMENT COUNSELING REPORTS
Mr. President, I am very disappoint-
ed that the compromise agreement
does not include provisions, derived
from legislation I introduced, which
would have mandated the submission
by the VA of two reports-one in con-
junction with the Department of De-
fense-assessing the need for and
access to readjustment counseling
from the VA for certain veterans and
certain active-duty personnel, includ-
ing those who have served since the
end of the Vietnam era in combat and
combat-like situations, such as in
Beirut and Grenada, who are not cur.
rently eligible for such services. I
remain very concerned that there may
be a generally unappreciated need for
the type of assistance that can best be
provided through the VA's readjust-
ment counseling program for some
veterans and active-duty personnel in
the groups that would have been stud-
led and believe our failure to investi-
gate that possibility is very shortsight-
ed. Although I was not successful in
convincing the House committee to
accept the Senate provision to man-
date study of these issues, I intend to
continue to pursue them.

REPORT ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
TO INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM AS
CIVILIANS

I also want to express my further
regret that the compromise agreement
does not contain a provision that was
included in the Senate amendment
and that was derived from legislation I
authored to attempt to address the
concerns of non-Federal civilians who
served in Vietnam during the Vietnam
era with voluntary organizations, such
as the Red Cross and the USO. As I
noted during Senate consideration of
8. 2514, certain civilians who, through
their service, provided valuable assist-
ance to the U.8. Government's efforts
in Vietnam are now concerned about
the effects of certain incidents of their
service, such as their exposure to
agent orange, on their health. I be-
lleve the Federal Government has an
obligation to evaluate those concerns
and consider poble alternative ap-
proaches for addressing them. In
taking this position, I recognize that
these individuals are not veterans and
that there is thus no basis for the VA
to assume primary responsibility for
addressing their concerns. Having sald
that, however, I continue to believe
that the VA has significant expertise
to lend to the resolution of the issue
and should play a role in any such
effort by the Federal Government.
Unfortunately, we were unable to
bring the other body to this point of
view.

ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT AUTHORITY Mr. President, the Senate amendment contained various provisions re

lating to the VA's program for the
treatment and rehabilitation of veter-
ans suffering from alcohol or drug de-
pendence or abuse disabilities. As
noted above, the compromise agree
ment

contains provisions-derived
from provisions authored by our
Chairman (Mr. SIMPSON) in the Senate
amendment-pertaining to the issue of
VA central office guidance to field sta-
tions in this respect. Not included,
however, are provisions from the
Senate amendment derived from legis.
lation, S. 2269, I introduced to extend
the VA's pilot program for the provi-
sion of alcohol and drug treatment or
rehabilitation through contracts with
non-VA halfway house and other com-
munity-based programs. On the basis
of Information currently available on
the experience under this 5-year pilot
program-which I authored as part of
Public Law 96-22-since its establish-
ment in 1979, I believe that the 2-year
extension provided for in the Senate
amendment was fully justified and ap
propriate. Thus, I regret that this ex-
tension is not included in the compro-
mise agreement. However, the pro-
gram does not expire until September
30, 1985, so there is still some time to
extend it. I intend to introduce in the
next Congress legislation to extend
the program for 3 years and will work
for its enactment as early as possible
next year.

SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING CERTAIN GRACE
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
Mr. President, another provision in-
cluded in the Senate amendment but
not in the compromise agreement
would have put the Congress on
record with reference to the need for
detailed study before any action on
certain recommendations-all relating
to the VA health-care system-of the
President's Private Sector Survey on
Cost Control, the so-called Grace
Commission. This provision, which
was derived from legislation which I
cosponsored as introduced by my good
friend from Arizona (Mr. DECONCINI]
would have been helpful in reaffirm-
ing the commitment of the Congress
to the maintenance of the VA health-
care system. I therefore regret that we
were unable to reach agreement to in-
clude such a provision in the compro-
mise agreement.

PROGRAM GUIDE ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Mr. President, the last provision I
want to note from the Senate amend-
ment that is not included in the com-
promise agreement would have re-
quired the administrator of Veterans'
Affairs to disseminate to appropriate
VA health-care facilities and submit to
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs a
program guide on Alzheimer's disease
and related neurological diseases. This
provision was included in the Senate
amendment on behalf of my good
friend from Ohio (Mr. METZENBAUM)
and reflected his and my strong per-
sonal concern about the issue of Alz-
heimer's disease. I have had for some
time a deep interest in the VA finally
Issuing a program guide on Alzhei
mer's disease so as to provide a more
widespread understanding of VA
policy in this area. Over 2 years ago
when I first pursued this matter with
the VA's Chief Medical Director, I was
advised that such a guide was under

development. It is long since past time for its issuance. Although the provi sion relating to this guide is not in the compromise agreement, I intend to continue to press for administrative action on this matter.

CONCLUSION

In closing, I would like to express my appreciation to the Chairman [Mr. SIMPSON) and all of the other members of the committee for their cooperation and assistance as we have worked to develop this compromise. I also thank again my good friends on the House Committee, the chairman of the full committee (Mr. MONTGOM ERY), the ranking minority member of both the full committee and the Hos pitals and Health Care Subcommittee [Mr. HAMMERSCHMIDT), and the chairman of the Hospitals and Health Care Subcommittee [Mr. EDGAR) for their usual fine work and cooperation. As always, it has been a pleasure working with all of our colleagues on our counterpart committee. The compromise measure has true bipartisan support in both Houses.

Mr. President, I also express my warmest thanks to the staff members of the House Committee who played key roles in the development of the compromise agreement, Pat Ryan, Jack McDonell, Richard Fuller, Rufus Wilson, and, as always, chief counsel and staff director Mack Fleming To the members of our committee's ma jority staff, Cindy Alpert, Vic Raymond, Julie Susman, and Tony Principi, and to James MacRae, my thanks for their effective work and coopera tion on this measure. As always, I am deeply indebted to our minority staff, Bill Brew, Ed Scott, Jenny McCarthy, Charlotte Hughes, Ingrid Post, and Jon Steinberg, for their excellent assistance.

Mr. President, as I noted at the outset of my remarks, although several provisions passed by the Senate have been deleted in the compromise agreement, I am satisfied that the compromise represents a generally fair resolution of the differences between the measures passed by the two bodies and will contribute substantially to the VA's ability to fulfill its mission, most especially the provision of qual ity health-care services to eligible veterans. Thus, I commend this compromise to the Senate and urge that it be agreed to unanimously.

Mr. MITCHELL Mr. President, I want to make a very brief statement regarding H.R. 5618, the Veterans' Health Care Act of 1984, which is now pending before the Senate.

To begin with, I wholeheartedly support this legislation. It contains provisions which make judicious changes in a number of Veterans' Administration programs and authorities which I be lieve will make significant improve ments in the VA's health-care system. I especially want to commend to my colleagues section 302, which deals with VA health-care service availabil ity to veterans residing in remote areas. This section was included in the Senate-passed health care bill this summer; it represented a compromise from original language I introduced in February 1983 dealing with rural health care.

APPENDIX E

PUBLIC LAW 98-528-OCT. 19, 1984

VETERANS' HEALTH CARE ACT OF 1984

98 STAT. 2686

PUBLIC LAW 98-528-OCT. 19, 1984

Public Law 98-528

98th Congress

An Act

Oct. 19, 1984 (H.R. 5618]

Veterans'

Health Care Act

of 1984.

38 USC 101 note.

38 USC 218.

Regulations.

Penalties.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise and improve Veterans' Administration health programs and to improve security and law enforcement at Veterans' Administration facilities; and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1. (a) This Act may be cited as the "Veterans' Health Care Act of 1984".

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United States Code.

TITLE I-HEALTH PROGRAMS

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AT VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION
FACILITIES

SEC. 101. (a)(1) Section 218 is amended to read as follows:

"§ 218. Security and law enforcement on property under the jurisdiction of the Veterans' Administration

"(a)(1) The Administrator shall prescribe regulations to provide for the maintenance of law and order and the protection of persons and property on land and in buildings under the jurisdiction of the Veterans' Administration and not under the control of the Administrator of General Services (hereinafter in this section referred to as 'Veterans' Administration property').

"(2) Such regulations shall include

"(A) rules for conduct on Veterans' Administration property; and

"(B) the penalties, within the limits specified in paragraph (3) of this subsection, for violations of such rules.

"(3) Whoever violates any rule prescribed under paragraph (2)(A) of this subsection shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than six months (or such lesser amount or period of time as the Administrator prescribes in the regulations prescribed under this subsection), or both.

"(4) The rules prescribed under clause (A) of paragraph (2) of this subsection, together with the penalties for violations of such rules, shall be posted conspicuously on property to which they apply. "(5) The Administrator shall consult with the Attorney General before prescribing regulations under this subsection.

"(b)(1) Veterans' Administration employees who are Veterans' Administration police officers shall enforce Federal laws and the

PUBLIC LAW 98-528-OCT. 19, 1984

rules prescribed under subsection (a)(2)(A) of this section on Veterans' Administration property. Subject to regulations prescribed under paragraph (2) of this subsection, a Veterans' Administration police officer may make arrests on Veterans' Administration property for a violation of any Federal law or of any such rule.

(2) The Administrator shall prescribe regulations with respect to Veterans' Administration police officers. Such regulations shall include

"(A) policies with respect to the exercise by Veterans' Administration police officers of the enforcement and arrest authori ties provided by paragraph (1) of this subsection;

"(B) the scope and duration of training that is required for Veterans' Administration police officers, with particular emphasis on dealing with situations involving patients; and

"(C) rules limiting the carrying and use of weapons by Veterans' Administration police officers.

"(3) The Administrator shall consult with the Attorney General before prescribing regulations under clause (A) of paragraph (2) of this subsection.

"(4) Rates of basic pay for Veterans' Administration police officers may be increased by the Administrator under section 4107(g) of this title.

"(c)1) The Administrator may pay an allowance under this subsection for the purchase of uniforms to any Veterans' Administration police officer who is required to wear a prescribed uniform in the performance of official duties.

"(2) The amount of the allowance that the Administrator may pay under this subsection

"(A) may be based on estimated average costs or actual costs;
"(B) may vary by geographic regions; and

"(C) except as provided in paragraph (3) of this paragraph, may not exceed $200 in a fiscal year for any police officer. "(3)(A) The amount of an allowance under this subsection may be increased to an amount up to $400 for not more than one fiscal year in the case of any Veterans' Administration police officer. In the case of a person who is appointed as a Veterans' Administration police officer on or after the date on which the Administrator initially exercises the authority granted by this paragraph, an allowance in an amount established under this paragraph shall be paid at the beginning of such person's employment as such an officer. In the case of any other Veterans' Administration police officer, an allowance in an amount established under this paragraph shall be paid upon the request of the officer.

"(B) A police officer who resigns as a police officer less than one year after receiving an allowance in an amount established under this paragraph shall repay to the Veterans' Administration a pro rata share of the amount paid, based on the number of months the officer was actually employed as such an officer during the twelvemonth period following the date on which such officer began such employment or the date on which the officer submitted a request for such allowance, as the case may be.

"(4) An allowance may not be paid to a Veterans' Administration police officer under this subsection and under section 5901 of title 5 for the same fiscal year.

"(d) The Administrator shall furnish Veterans' Administration police officers with such weapons and related equipment as the Administrator determines to be necessary and appropriate.

98 STAT. 2687

Regulations.