[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 700 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 700
To improve the reproductive assistance provided by the Department of
Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to severely wounded,
ill, or injured members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their
spouses or partners, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 22, 2017
Mrs. Murray (for herself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Brown, and Mrs.
Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve the reproductive assistance provided by the Department of
Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to severely wounded,
ill, or injured members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their
spouses or partners, 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. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Women Veterans and
Families Health Services Act of 2017''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--REPRODUCTIVE AND FERTILITY PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES
Sec. 101. Provision of fertility treatment and counseling to certain
members of the Armed Forces and spouses,
partners, and gestational surrogates of
such members.
Sec. 102. Establishment of fertility preservation procedures after an
injury or illness.
Sec. 103. Cryopreservation and storage of gametes of members of the
Armed Forces on active duty.
Sec. 104. Coordination between Department of Defense and Department of
Veterans Affairs on furnishing of fertility
treatment and counseling.
TITLE II--REPRODUCTIVE, ADOPTION, AND CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE FOR
VETERANS
Sec. 201. Inclusion of fertility treatment and counseling under the
definition of medical services in title 38.
Sec. 202. Fertility treatment and counseling for certain veterans and
spouses, partners, and gestational
surrogates of such veterans.
Sec. 203. Adoption assistance for severely wounded veterans.
Sec. 204. Annual report on fertility treatment and counseling furnished
by Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 205. Regulations on furnishing of fertility treatment and
counseling and adoption assistance by
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 206. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research.
Sec. 207. Requirement to improve Department of Veterans Affairs women
veterans contact center.
Sec. 208. Modification of pilot program on counseling in retreat
settings for women veterans newly separated
from service in the Armed Forces.
Sec. 209. Program on assistance for child care for certain veterans.
TITLE I--REPRODUCTIVE AND FERTILITY PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES
SEC. 101. PROVISION OF FERTILITY TREATMENT AND COUNSELING TO CERTAIN
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND SPOUSES, PARTNERS, AND
GESTATIONAL SURROGATES OF SUCH MEMBERS.
(a) Fertility Treatment and Counseling.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall furnish
fertility treatment and counseling, including through the use
of assisted reproductive technology, to a covered member of the
Armed Forces or a spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of
such a member.
(2) Eligibility for treatment and counseling.--Fertility
treatment and counseling shall be furnished under paragraph (1)
without regard to the sex or marital status of the covered
member of the Armed Forces.
(3) In vitro fertilization.--In the case of in vitro
fertilization treatment furnished under paragraph (1), the
Secretary may furnish not more than three completed cycles or
six attempted cycles of in vitro fertilization, whichever
occurs first, to an individual under such paragraph.
(b) Procurement of Gametes.--If a covered member of the Armed
Forces is unable to provide their gametes for purposes of fertility
treatment under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, at the election of
such member, allow such member to receive such treatment with donated
gametes and pay or reimburse such member the reasonable costs of
procuring gametes from a donor.
(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to
require the Secretary--
(1) to find or certify a gestational surrogate for a
covered member of the Armed Forces or to connect a gestational
surrogate with such a member; or
(2) to find or certify gametes from a donor for a covered
member of the Armed Forces or to connect such a member with
gametes from a donor.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Assisted reproductive technology.--The term ``assisted
reproductive technology'' includes in vitro fertilization and
other fertility treatments in which both eggs and sperm are
handled when clinically appropriate.
(2) Covered member of the armed forces.--The term ``covered
member of the Armed Forces'' means a severely wounded, ill, or
injured member of the Armed Forces who has an infertility
condition incurred or aggravated while serving on active duty
in the Armed Forces.
(3) Fertility treatment.--The term ``fertility treatment''
includes the following:
(A) Procedures that use assisted reproductive
technology.
(B) Sperm retrieval.
(C) Egg retrieval.
(D) Artificial insemination.
(E) Embryo transfer.
(F) Such other treatments as the Secretary of
Defense considers appropriate.
(4) Partner.--The term ``partner'', with respect to a
member of the Armed Forces, means an individual selected by the
member who agrees to share with the member the parental
responsibilities with respect to any child born as a result of
the use of any fertility treatment under this section.
SEC. 102. ESTABLISHMENT OF FERTILITY PRESERVATION PROCEDURES AFTER AN
INJURY OR ILLNESS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, acting through the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, shall establish
procedures for the retrieval of gametes, as soon as medically
appropriate, from a member of the Armed Forces in cases in which the
fertility of such member is potentially jeopardized as a result of an
injury or illness incurred or aggravated while serving on active duty
in the Armed Forces in order to preserve the medical options of such
member.
(b) Consent for Retrieval of Gametes.--Gametes may be retrieved
from a member of the Armed Forces under subsection (a) only--
(1) with the specific consent of the member; or
(2) if the member is unable to consent, if a medical
professional determines that--
(A) the future fertility of the member is
potentially jeopardized as a result of an injury or
illness described in subsection (a) or will be
potentially jeopardized as a result of treating such
injury or illness;
(B) the member lacks the capacity to consent to the
retrieval of gametes and is likely to regain such
capacity; and
(C) the retrieval of gametes under this section is
in the medical interest of the member.
(c) Consent for Use of Retrieved Gametes.--Gametes retrieved from a
member of the Armed Forces under subsection (a) may be used only--
(1) with the specific consent of the member; or
(2) if the member has lost the ability to consent
permanently, as determined by a medical professional, as
specified in an advance directive or testamentary instrument
executed by the member.
(d) Disposal of Gametes.--In accordance with regulations prescribed
by the Secretary for purpose of this subsection, the Secretary shall
dispose of gametes retrieved from a member of the Armed Forces under
subsection (a)--
(1) with the specific consent of the member; or
(2) if the member--
(A) has lost the ability to consent permanently, as
determined by a medical professional; and
(B) has not specified the use of their gametes in
an advance directive or testamentary instrument
executed by the member.
SEC. 103. CRYOPRESERVATION AND STORAGE OF GAMETES OF MEMBERS OF THE
ARMED FORCES ON ACTIVE DUTY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall provide members of
the Armed Forces on active duty in the Armed Forces with the
opportunity to cryopreserve and store their gametes prior to deployment
to a combat zone.
(b) Period of Time.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide for the
cryopreservation and storage of gametes of any member of the
Armed Forces under subsection (a), at no cost to the member, in
a facility of the Department of Defense or of a private entity
pursuant to a contract under subsection (d) until the date that
is one year after the retirement, separation, or release of the
member from the Armed Forces.
(2) Continued cryopreservation and storage.--At the end of
the one-year period specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall permit an individual whose gametes were cryopreserved and
stored in a facility of the Department as described in that
paragraph to select, including pursuant to an advance medical
directive or military testamentary instrument completed under
subsection (c), one of the following options:
(A) To continue such cryopreservation and storage
in such facility with the cost of such cryopreservation
and storage borne by the individual.
(B) To transfer the gametes to a private
cryopreservation and storage facility selected by the
individual.
(C) To transfer the gametes to a facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs if cryopreservation and
storage is available to the individual at such
facility.
(3) Disposal of gametes.--If an individual described in
paragraph (2) does not make a selection under subparagraph (A),
(B), or (C) of such paragraph, the Secretary may dispose of the
gametes of the individual not earlier than the date that is 90
days after the end of the one-year period specified in
paragraph (1) with respect to the individual.
(c) Advance Medical Directive and Military Testamentary
Instrument.--A member of the Armed Forces who elects to cryopreserve
and store their gametes under this section must complete an advance
medical directive, as defined in section 1044c(b) of title 10, United
States Code, and a military testamentary instrument, as defined in
section 1044d(b) of such title, that explicitly specifies the use of
their cryopreserved and stored gametes if such member dies or otherwise
loses the capacity to consent to the use of their cryopreserved and
stored gametes.
(d) Agreements.--To carry out this section, the Secretary may enter
into agreements with private entities that provide cryopreservation and
storage services for gametes.
SEC. 104. COORDINATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS ON FURNISHING OF FERTILITY TREATMENT AND
COUNSELING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall share best practices and facilitate referrals,
as they consider appropriate, on the furnishing of fertility treatment
and counseling to individuals eligible for the receipt of such
counseling and treatment from the Secretaries.
(b) Memoradum of Understanding.--The Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into a memorandum of
understanding--
(1) providing that the Secretary of Defense will ensure
access by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to gametes of
veterans stored by the Department of Defense for purposes of
furnishing fertility treatment under section 1720I of title 38,
United States Code, as added by section 202; and
(2) authorizing the Department of Veterans Affairs to
compensate the Department of Defense for the cryopreservation
and storage of gametes of veterans under section 103.
TITLE II--REPRODUCTIVE, ADOPTION, AND CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE FOR
VETERANS
SEC. 201. INCLUSION OF FERTILITY TREATMENT AND COUNSELING UNDER THE
DEFINITION OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN TITLE 38.
Section 1701(6) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(H) Fertility treatment and counseling, including
treatment using assisted reproductive technology.''.
SEC. 202. FERTILITY TREATMENT AND COUNSELING FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AND
SPOUSES, PARTNERS, AND GESTATIONAL SURROGATES OF SUCH
VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1720I. Fertility treatment and counseling for certain veterans
and spouses, partners, and gestational surrogates of such
veterans
``(a) In General.--(1) The Secretary shall furnish fertility
treatment and counseling, including through the use of assisted
reproductive technology, to a covered veteran or a spouse, partner, or
gestational surrogate of a covered veteran if the veteran, and the
spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of the veteran, as
applicable, apply jointly for such counseling and treatment through a
process prescribed by the Secretary.
``(2) Fertility treatment and counseling shall be furnished under
paragraph (1) without regard to the sex or marital status of the
covered veteran.
``(3) In the case of in vitro fertilization treatment furnished
under paragraph (1), the Secretary may furnish not more than three
completed cycles or six attempted cycles of in vitro fertilization,
whichever occurs first, to an individual under such paragraph.
``(b) Coordination of Care for Other Individuals.--In the case of a
veteran or a spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of a veteran not
described in subsection (a) who is seeking fertility treatment and
counseling, the Secretary may coordinate fertility treatment and
counseling for such veteran, spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate.
``(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to
require the Secretary--
``(1) to find or certify a gestational surrogate for a
covered veteran or to connect a gestational surrogate with a
covered veteran; or
``(2) to furnish maternity care to a covered veteran or
spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of a covered veteran
in addition to what is otherwise required by law.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `assisted reproductive technology' includes
in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments in which
both eggs and sperm are handled when clinically appropriate.
``(2) The term `covered veteran' means a severely wounded,
ill, or injured veteran who--
``(A) has an infertility condition incurred or
aggravated in line of duty in the active military,
naval, or air service; and
``(B) is enrolled in the system of annual patient
enrollment established under section 1705(a) of this
title.
``(3) The term `fertility treatment' includes the
following:
``(A) Procedures that use assisted reproductive
technology.
``(B) Sperm retrieval.
``(C) Egg retrieval.
``(D) Artificial insemination.
``(E) Embryo transfer.
``(F) Such other treatments as the Secretary
considers appropriate.
``(4) The term `partner', with respect to a veteran, means
an individual selected by the veteran who agrees to share with
the veteran the parental responsibilities with respect to any
child born as a result of the use of any fertility treatment
under this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 1720H the following new item:
``1720I. Fertility treatment and counseling for spouses, partners, and
gestational surrogates of veterans.''.
SEC. 203. ADOPTION ASSISTANCE FOR SEVERELY WOUNDED VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1788. Adoption assistance
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may pay an amount, not to exceed
the limitation amount, to assist a covered veteran in the adoption of
one or more children.
``(b) Limitation Amount.--For purposes of this section, the
limitation amount is the amount equal to the cost the Department would
incur by paying the expenses of three adoptions by covered veterans, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(c) Covered Veteran Defined.--In this section, the term `covered
veteran' has the meaning given that term in section 1720I of this
title.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 1787 the following new item:
``1788. Adoption assistance.''.
SEC. 204. ANNUAL REPORT ON FERTILITY TREATMENT AND COUNSELING FURNISHED
BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act and not less frequently than annually thereafter,
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 report on the fertility treatment and
counseling furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs during the
year preceding the submittal of the report.
(b) Elements.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall
include, for the period covered by the report, the following:
(1) The number of veterans who received fertility treatment
or counseling furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs,
disaggregated by era of military service of such veterans.
(2) The number of spouses, partners, and gestational
surrogates of veterans who received fertility treatment or
counseling furnished by the Department.
(3) The cost to the Department of furnishing fertility
treatment and counseling, disaggregated by cost of services and
administration.
(4) The average cost to the Department per recipient of
fertility treatment and counseling.
(5) In cases in which the Department furnished fertility
treatment through the use of assisted reproductive technology,
the average number of cycles per person furnished,
disaggregated by type of treatment.
(6) A description of how fertility treatment and counseling
services of the Department are coordinated with similar
services of the Department of Defense.
(c) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``assisted
reproductive technology'' and ``partner'' have the meanings given those
term in section 1720I of title 38, United States Code, as added by
section 202.
SEC. 205. REGULATIONS ON FURNISHING OF FERTILITY TREATMENT AND
COUNSELING AND ADOPTION ASSISTANCE BY DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe regulations--
(1) to carry out section 1720I of title 38, United States
Code, as added by section 202; and
(2) to carry out section 1788 of such title, as added by
section 203.
SEC. 206. FACILITATION OF REPRODUCTION AND INFERTILITY RESEARCH.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 7330C. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research
``(a) Facilitation of Research Required.--The Secretary shall
facilitate research conducted collaboratively by the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the
ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to meet the long-term
reproductive health care needs of veterans who have a genitourinary
service-connected disability or a condition that was incurred or
aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air
service, such as a spinal cord injury, that affects the veterans'
ability to reproduce.
``(b) Dissemination of Information.--The Secretary shall ensure
that information produced by the research facilitated under this
section that may be useful for other activities of the Veterans Health
Administration is disseminated throughout the Veterans Health
Administration.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 73 of such title is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 7330B the following new item:
``7330C. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research.''.
(c) Report.--Not later than three years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to Congress a report on the research activities conducted by the
Secretary under section 7330C of title 38, United States Code, as added
by subsection (a).
SEC. 207. REQUIREMENT TO IMPROVE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WOMEN
VETERANS CONTACT CENTER.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enhance the capabilities of
the women veterans contact center of the Department of Veterans
Affairs--
(1) to respond to requests by women veterans for assistance
with accessing health care and benefits furnished under the
laws administered by the Secretary; and
(2) to refer such veterans to resources provided by the
Federal Government and the community to obtain assistance with
services not furnished by the Department.
SEC. 208. MODIFICATION OF PILOT PROGRAM ON COUNSELING IN RETREAT
SETTINGS FOR WOMEN VETERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE
IN THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) Increase in Number of Locations.--Subsection (c) of section 203
of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010
(Public Law 111-163; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended by striking
``three locations'' and inserting ``14 locations''.
(b) Extension of Duration.--Subsection (d) of such section is
amended by striking ``December 31, 2017'' and inserting ``December 31,
2020''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (f) of such
section is amended by striking ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs for
each'' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting
``Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out the pilot program--
``(1) for each of fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, and
2017, $2,000,000; and
``(2) for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2020, such sums
as may be necessary.''.
SEC. 209. PROGRAM ON ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.
(a) Assistance for Child Care for Certain Veterans Receiving Health
Care.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 1709C. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving
health care
``(a) Program Required.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to
provide, subject to subsection (b), assistance to qualified veterans
described in subsection (c) to obtain child care so that such veterans
can receive health care services described in subsection (c)(2).
``(b) Limitation on Period of Payments.--Assistance may be provided
to a qualified veteran under this section for receipt of child care
only during the period that the qualified veteran--
``(1) receives the types of health care services described
in subsection (c)(2) at a facility of the Department; and
``(2) requires travel to and return from such facility for
the receipt of such health care services.
``(c) Qualified Veterans.--For purposes of this section, a
qualified veteran is a veteran who--
``(1) is the primary caretaker of a child or children; and
``(2)(A) receives from the Department--
``(i) regular mental health care services;
``(ii) intensive mental health care services; or
``(iii) such other intensive health care services
that the Secretary determines that provision of
assistance to the veteran to obtain child care would
improve access to such health care services by the
veteran; or
``(B) is in need of regular or intensive mental health care
services from the Department, and but for lack of child care
services, would receive such health care services from the
Department.
``(d) Locations.--Not later than five years after the date of the
enactment of the Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of
2017, the Secretary shall carry out the program at each medical center
of the Department.
``(e) Forms of Child Care Assistance.--(1) Child care assistance
under this section may include the following:
``(A) Stipends for the payment of child care offered by
licensed child care centers (either directly or through a
voucher program) that shall be, to the extent practicable,
modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care
Subsidy Program established pursuant to section 630 of the
Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2002
(Public Law 107-67; 115 Stat. 552).
``(B) Direct provision of child care at an on-site facility
of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
``(C) Payments to private child care agencies.
``(D) Collaboration with facilities or programs of other
Federal agencies.
``(E) Such other forms of assistance as the Secretary
considers appropriate.
``(2) In providing child care assistance under this section, the
child care needs of the local area shall be considered and the head of
each medical center may select the type of care that is most
appropriate or feasible for such medical center.
``(3) In the case that child care assistance under this section is
provided as a stipend under paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall cover
the full cost of such child care.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 205(e) of the Caregivers
and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law
111-163; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking ``December
31, 2017'' and inserting ``the date of the enactment of the
Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2017''.
(3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 1709B the following new
item:
``1709C. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving
health care.''.
(b) Assistance for Child Care for Certain Veterans Receiving
Readjustment Counseling and Related Mental Health Services.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of such title,
as amended by subsection (a)(1), is further amended by adding
at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1709D. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving
readjustment counseling and related mental health
services
``(a) Program Required.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to
provide, subject to subsection (b), assistance to qualified veterans
described in subsection (c) to obtain child care so that such veterans
can receive readjustment counseling and related mental health services.
``(b) Limitation on Period of Payments.--Assistance may be provided
to a qualified veteran under this section for receipt of child care
only during the period that the qualified veteran receives readjustment
counseling and related health care services at a Vet Center.
``(c) Qualified Veterans.--For purposes of this section, a
qualified veteran is a veteran who--
``(1) is the primary caretaker of a child; and
``(2)(A) receives from the Department regular readjustment
counseling and related mental health services; or
``(B) is in need of readjustment counseling and related
mental health services from the Department, and but for lack of
child care services, would receive such counseling and services
from the Department.
``(d) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the program under
this section in not fewer than three Readjustment Counseling Service
Regions selected by the Secretary for purposes of the program.
``(e) Forms of Child Care Assistance.--(1) Child care assistance
under this section may include the following:
``(A) Stipends for the payment of child care offered by
licensed child care centers (either directly or through a
voucher program) that shall be, to the extent practicable,
modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care
Subsidy Program established pursuant to section 630 of the
Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2002
(Public Law 107-67; 115 Stat. 552).
``(B) Payments to private child care agencies.
``(C) Collaboration with facilities or programs of other
Federal agencies.
``(D) Such other forms of assistance as the Secretary
considers appropriate.
``(2) In providing child care assistance under this section, the
child care needs of the local area shall be considered and the head of
each Vet Center may select the type of care that is most appropriate or
feasible for such Vet Center.
``(3) In the case that child care assistance under this subsection
is provided as a stipend under paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall
cover the full cost of such child care.
``(f) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term `Vet Center'
means a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health
services for veterans under section 1712A of this title.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter, as amended by subsection (a)(3), is
further amended by inserting after the item relating to section
1709C the following new item:
``1709D. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving
readjustment counseling and related mental
health services.''.
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