Floor SpeechNeutral2026-06-16

Text of Senate Amendment 5829

TaxesEnvironmentDefenseVeteransInfrastructure

Context

On 2026-06-16, Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 5829" in the Senate.

Full Text

Text of Senate Amendment 5829

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 101 (Tuesday, June 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 16, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2861] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5829. Mr. KING (for himself and Mr. Cramer) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place in subtitle E of title V, insert the following: SEC. __. PRESENTATION TO PROMOTE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO VETERANS IN PRESEPARATION COUNSELING UNDER THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (a) In General.--Section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(20) A presentation that promotes the benefits available to veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Such presentation-- ``(A) shall be standardized; ``(B) shall, before implementation, be reviewed and approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with veterans service organizations that provide claims assistance under the benefits delivery at discharge program of the Department of Veterans Affairs; ``(C) shall be submitted by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives for review at least 90 days before implementation; ``(D) where available, shall be presented with the participation of-- ``(i) a representative of a veterans service organization recognized under section 5902 of title 38; or ``(ii) an individual-- ``(I) recognized under section 5903 of such title; and ``(II) authorized by the Secretary concerned to so participate; ``(E) shall include information on how a veterans service organization may assist the member in filing a claim described in paragraph (19); ``(F) may not encourage the member to join a particular veterans service organization; and ``(G) may not exceed one hour in duration.''. (b) Annual Report.--Not less than frequently than once each year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 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 that-- (1) identifies each veterans service organization that participated in a presentation under paragraph (20) of section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a); (2) contains the number of members of the Armed Forces who attended such presentations; and (3) includes any recommendations of the Secretary regarding changes to such presentation or to such paragraph. ____________________

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Text of Senate Amendment 5829 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 101 (Tuesday, June 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 16, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2861] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5829. Mr. KING (for himself and Mr. Cramer) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place in subtitle E of title V, insert the following: SEC. __. PRESENTATION TO PROMOTE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO VETERANS IN PRESEPARATION COUNSELING UNDER THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (a) In General.--Section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(20) A presentation that promotes the benefits available to veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Such presentation-- ``(A) shall be standardized; ``(B) shall, before implementation, be reviewed and approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with veterans service organizations that provide claims assistance under the benefits delivery at discharge program of the Department of Veterans Affairs; ``(C) shall be submitted by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives for review at least 90 days before implementation; ``(D) where available, shall be presented with the participation of-- ``(i) a representative of a veterans service organization recognized under section 5902 of title 38; or ``(ii) an individual-- ``(I) recognized under section 5903 of such title; and ``(II) authorized by the Secretary concerned to so participate; ``(E) shall include information on how a veterans service organization may assist the member in filing a claim described in paragraph (19); ``(F) may not encourage the member to join a particular veterans service organization; and ``(G) may not exceed one hour in duration.''. (b) Annual Report.--Not less than frequently than once each year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 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 that-- (1) identifies each veterans service organization that participated in a presentation under paragraph (20) of section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a); (2) contains the number of members of the Armed Forces who attended such presentations; and (3) includes any recommendations of the Secretary regarding changes to such presentation or to such paragraph. ____________________