,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #hdj  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(            
,,repres5tatives  ,janu>y #bi1 #bjai,ms4
 ,br[nley ( ,cali=nia 7= h]self & ,mr4  
,higg9s ( ,new ,york7 introduc$ ! foll[+
 bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
direct ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  
to provide *ild c>e assi/ance to vet]ans
 receiv+ c]ta9 m$ical s]vices provid$ by
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  #a4  
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,vet]ans' ,access to ,*ild ,c>e ,act4   
#b4 ,*ild c>e assi/ance = vet]ans       
receiv+ m5tal heal? c>e & o!r int5sive  
heal? c>e s]vices provid$ by ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,9 g5]al      
,sub*apt] ,,iii ( *apt] #ag ( title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+  
at ! end ! foll[+ new section3          
#agcj;,d4 ,*ild c>e assi/ance = vet]ans 
receiv+ m5tal heal? c>e & o!r int5sive  
heal? c>e s]vices  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!      
,secret>y %all provide *ild c>e         

assi/ance to an eligible vet]an = any   
p]iod t ! vet]an--  7#a7 receives cov]$ 
heal? c>e s]vices at a facility ( !     
,dep>tm5t2 &  7#b7 is requir$ travel to 
& return f su* facility = ! receipt (   
su* heal? c>e s]vices4  7b7 ,*ild ,c>e  
,assi/ance  7#a7 ,*ild c>e assi/ance    
provid$ "u ?is section may include any (
 ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,a /ip5d = ! paym5t (   
*ild c>e (f]$ by a lic5s$ *ild c>e c5t] 
7ei!r directly or ?r\gh a v\*] program7 
:i* %all be1 to ! ext5t practicable1    
model$ aft] ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs ,*ild ,c>e ,subsidy ,program   
e/abli%$ pursuant to section #eij (     
title #dj4  7,b7 ,direct provision (    
*ild c>e at an on-site facility ( !     
,dep>tm5t4  7,c7 ,a paym5t made directly
 to a private *ild c>e ag5cy4  7,d7 ,a  
collaboration ) a facility or program ( 
ano!r ,f$]al dep>tm5t or ag5cy4  7,e7   
,su* o!r =m ( assi/ance z ! ,secret>y   
consid]s appropriate4  7#b7 ,9 ! case t 
*ild c>e assi/ance "u ?is section is    
provid$ z a /ip5d "u p>agraph 7#a77;,a71

 su* /ip5d %all cov] ! full co/ ( su*   
*ild c>e4  7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is       
section3 7#a7 ,! t]m eligible vet]an    
means a vet]an :o--  7,a7 is ! prim>y   
c>etak] ( a *ild or *ildr52 &  7,b7 is--
  7i7 receiv+ cov]$ heal? c>e s]vices f 
! ,dep>tm5t2 or  7ii7 9 ne$ ( cov]$     
heal? c>e s]vices1 & b = lack ( *ild c>e
 s]vices1 w\ld receive su* cov]$ heal?  
c>e s]vices f ! ,dep>tm5t4  7#b7 ,! t]m 
cov]$ heal? c>e s]vices means-- 7,a7    
regul> m5tal heal? c>e s]vices2  7,b7   
int5sive m5tal heal? c>e s]vices2 or    
7,c7 su* o!r int5sive heal? c>e s]vices 
t ! ,secret>y det]m9es t provision (    
assi/ance to ! vet]an to obta9 *ild c>e 
w\ld improve access to su* heal? c>e    
s]vices by ! vet]an4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical   
am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+ 
( su* *apt] is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] !   
item relat+ to section #agcj;,c ! foll[+
 new item3  #agcj;,d4 ,*ild c>e         
assi/ance = vet]ans receiv+ m5tal heal? 
c>e & o!r int5sive heal? c>e s]vices4  4