,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #adcf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #c1 #bjbc,mr4 ,tester 7for himself and ,ms4 ,murkowski7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to expand and extend benefits available to veterans in response to the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,critical ,health ,access ,resource and ,grant ,extensions ,act of #bjbc or the ,,charge ,act of #bjbc4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4,,title ,i--,homelessness matters,sec4 #aja4 ,grants and per diem payments provided by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for services furnished to homeless veterans4,sec4 #ajb4 ,authorization for use of certain funds for improved flexibility in provision of assistance to homeless veterans4,sec4 #ajc4 ,access to ,department of ,veterans ,affairs telehealth services4,,title ,,ii--,matters relating to caregivers,sec4 #bja4 ,authorized virtual visits under caregiver programs of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4,,title ,,iii--,state veterans homes,sec4 #cja4 ,state home defined4,sec4 #cjb4 ,temporary waiver of occupancy rate requirements for receipt of per diem payments4,sec4 #cjc4 ,provision of medicine1 equipment1 and supplies4 ,i ,homelessness matters #aja4 ,grants and per diem payments provided by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for services furnished to homeless veterans 7a7 ,limitation on transitional housing beds ,section #bjaa of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7i7 ,limitation on transitional housing beds ,the ,secretary may not make grants under this section or provide per diem payments under section #bjab of this title for more than #ab1jjj transitional housing beds for homeless veterans furnished by grant recipients or eligible entities under such sections on average each year4 4 7b7 ,reports required ,section #bjab of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7f7 ,reports required ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of the ,,charge ,act of #bjbc1 and not less frequently than twice each year thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the rate for per diem payments under this section that includes1 for each ,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network of the ,department1 the following data3 7#a7 ,the average rate for such payments4 7#b7 ,a list of locations where the rate for such payments is within #aj percent of the maximum rate for such payments authorized under this section4 7#c7 ,the average length of stay by veterans participating in programs described in section #bjaa7;a7 of this title4 4 7c7 ,maximum rate ,during the three-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 section #bjab7;a77#b77;,b77i77,,ii77aa77,,bb7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall be applied and administered by substituting #bjj for #aae4 7d7 ,strategic plan 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #edj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives a strategic plan for the provision of grants and per diem payments for services furnished to homeless veterans under sections #bjaa and #bjab of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,elements ,the plan required by paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a method for administering grant funding equitably without using the rate authorized for ,state homes for domiciliary care under subsection 7a77#a77;,a7 of section #agda of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as the ,secretary may increase from time to time under subsection 7c7 of that section1 that takes into account-- 7i7 the wide variety of services furnished by grant recipients and eligible entities under sections #bjaa and #bjab of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code2 7ii7 varying costs of living across different geographic locations2 7iii7 varying availability of affordable housing in different geographic locations2 7iv7 circumstances of housing insecurity in rural and ,tribal communities2 7v7 veterans with significant medical care needs2 and 7vi7 the changing dynamic of the veteran population nationwide4 7,b7 ,a plan and timeline for implementation of the method included under subparagraph 7,a74 7,c7 ,an estimate of increased costs or savings per year under the plan4 7,d7 ,an overview of the different grants that will be available once the plan is implemented4 #ajb4 ,authorization for use of certain funds for improved flexibility in provision of assistance to homeless veterans 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,,vii of chapter #bj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #bjfi4 ,flexibility in provision of assistance to homeless veterans 7a7 ,use of funds ,the ,secretary may provide to homeless veterans and veterans participating in the program carried out under section #h7o77#ai7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o77#ai771 as the ,secretary determines necessary1 the following3 7#a7 ,assistance required for the safety and survival of the veteran 7such as food1 shelter1 clothing1 blankets1 and hygiene items74 7#b7 ,transportation required to support the stability and health of the veteran 7such as transportation for appointments with service providers1 the conduct of housing searches1 and the obtainment of food and supplies74 7#c7 ,communications equipment and services 7such as tablets1 smartphones1 disposable phones1 and related service plans7 required to support the stability and health of the veteran 7such as through the maintenance of contact with service providers1 prospective landlords1 and family members74 7#d7 ,such other assistance as the ,secretary determines necessary4 7b7 ,homeless veterans on ,department land 7#a7 ,the ,secretary may collaborate1 to the extent practicable1 with one or more organizations to manage the use of land of the ,department for homeless veterans for living and sleeping4 7#b7 ,collaboration under paragraph 7#a7 may include the provision by either the ,secretary or the head of the organization concerned of food services and security for property1 buildings1 and other facilities owned or controlled by the ,department4 7c7 ,sunset ,the authorities provided by this section shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of the ,,charge ,act of #bjbc4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #bj of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item3 #bjfi4 ,flexibility in provision of assistance to homeless veterans4 4 #ajc4 ,access to ,department of ,veterans ,affairs telehealth services 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,,vii of chapter #bj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as amended by section #ajb7;a71 is further amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #bjgj4 ,access to telehealth services ,to the extent practicable1 the ,secretary shall ensure that veterans participating in or receiving services from a program under this chapter have access to telehealth services to which such veterans are eligible under the laws administered by the ,secretary1 including by ensuring that telehealth capabilities are available to-- 7#a7 such veterans2 7#b7 case managers of the ,department of programs for homeless veterans authorized under this chapter2 and 7#c7 community-based service providers for homeless veterans receiving funds from the ,department through grants or contracts4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #bj of such title1 as amended by section #ajb7;b71 is further amended by adding at the end the following new item3 #bjgj4 ,access to telehealth services4 4 ,,ii ,matters relating to caregivers #bja4 ,authorized virtual visits under caregiver programs of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,on or before ,september #cj1 #bjbc1 notwithstanding any requirement to the contrary under section #agbj;,g of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 or part #ga of title #ch1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or successor regulations1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may complete any home visit required under such section with respect to a veteran and their caregiver through video conference or other available telehealth modality1 if agreed to by the veteran or caregiver4 ,,iii ,state veterans homes #cja4 ,state home defined ,in this title1 the term ,state home has the meaning given that term in section #aja7ai7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 #cjb4 ,temporary waiver of occupancy rate requirements for receipt of per diem payments ,during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act and ending on ,september #cj1 #bjbd1 occupancy rate requirements for ,state homes for purposes of receiving per diem payments set forth in section #ea4dj7;c7 of title #ch1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or successor regulations1 shall not apply4 #cjc4 ,provision of medicine1 equipment1 and supplies 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may provide to ,state homes medicines1 personal protective equipment1 medical supplies1 and any other equipment1 supplies1 and assistance available to the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 7b7 ,personal protective equipment defined ,in this section1 the term personal protective equipment means any protective equipment required to prevent the wearer from contracting an infectious disease1 including gloves1 ,n-#ie respirator masks1 gowns1 goggles1 face shields1 or other equipment required for safety4