[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 562 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 794
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 562
[Report No. 118-945]
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit Members of
Congress to use facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs for
the purposes of meeting with constituents, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 26, 2023
Mr. Mast (for himself, Mr. Panetta, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Tony Gonzales of
Texas, Mr. Baird, Mrs. Kim of California, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Mr.
Scott Franklin of Florida, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Mr. Dunn of Florida, Ms.
Van Duyne, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Finstad, Mr. Flood, Mr. Higgins of
Louisiana, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Johnson of Louisiana, and
Mr. Joyce of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
December 24, 2024
Additional sponsors: Mr. Kean of New Jersey, Mr. Bishop of North
Carolina, Mr. Hudson, Ms. Sherrill, Mr. Nunn of Iowa, Mr. Fallon, Mr.
Self, Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Van Orden, Mr. Murphy, Mr. LaLota, Mr. Golden
of Maine, Mr. Crow, Ms. Slotkin, Mr. Neguse, and Ms. Caraveo
December 24, 2024
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January
26, 2023]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit Members of
Congress to use facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs for
the purposes of meeting with constituents, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Veterans Access to
Congressional Services Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. USE OF FACILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BY
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--Upon request of a Member of Congress and subject
to regulations prescribed under subsection (b), the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall permit the Member to use a facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (other than a facility of the National
Cemetery Administration) for the purposes of meeting with veterans who
are constituents of the Member. The Secretary and the Administrator of
General Services shall jointly identify available spaces in facilities
of the Department for such purposes.
(b) Regulations.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
prescribe regulations regarding such use of a facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs by Members of Congress. Regulations
prescribed under this subsection--
(1) shall require that a space within a facility of the
Department provided to a Member under subsection (a) is--
(A) available during normal business hours;
(B) located in an area that is visible and
accessible to veterans who are constituents of the
Member; and
(C) subject to a rate of rent (payable from the
Member's Representational Allowance or the Senator's
Official Personnel and Office Expense Account, as the
case may be) that is similar to the rate charged by the
Administrator of General Services for office space in
the area of the facility;
(2) may not prohibit a Member from advertising the use by
the Member of a space within a facility of the Department under
subsection (a);
(3) shall comply with sections 7321 through 7326 of title
5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Hatch
Act'') and section 1.218(a)(14) of title 38, Code of Federal
Regulations (or successor regulation), by prohibiting
activities including--
(A) campaigning in support of or opposition to any
political office;
(B) statements or actions that solicit, support, or
oppose any change to Federal law or policy;
(C) any activity that interferes with security or
normal operation of the facility;
(D) photographing or recording a veteran patient at
such facility;
(E) photographing or recording a patient, visitor
to the facility, or employee of the Department without
the consent of such individual; and
(F) photography or recording for the purpose of
political campaign materials;
(4) may not permit a Member of Congress to use such a
facility during the 60-day period preceding an election for
Federal office in the jurisdiction in which such facility is
located; and
(5) may not unreasonably restrict use of a facility of the
Department by a Member under subsection (a) if--
(A) there is space in such facility not in regular
use by personnel of the Department; and
(B) use of such space shall not impede operations
of the Department in such facility.
Union Calendar No. 794
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 562
[Report No. 118-945]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit Members of
Congress to use facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs for
the purposes of meeting with constituents, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 24, 2024
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed