Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act

Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-183.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 3, 2019

Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act

This bill authorizes the Indian Health Service (IHS) to pay copayments owed to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by Indian veterans for medical services authorized under the Purchased/Referred Care program and administered at a VA facility.

The IHS, the VA, and tribal health programs, in consultation with impacted tribes, must enter into a memorandum of understanding that authorizes the IHS or a tribal health program to pay such copayments unless it would decrease the quality of, or access to, health care for individuals receiving care from the IHS or the VA.

The IHS and the VA must report on veterans who are eligible for IHS assistance and have received care from the VA.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] · R–SD

Committees

Indian Affairs Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Nov 20, 2019
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-183.
Apr 3, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text: CR S2241-2242)
Apr 3, 2019
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Apr 3, 2019 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 304 · Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act

Source last updated: Jun 20, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.1001 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.1001, 116th Congress: Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1001

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-04-03.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s1001/BILLS-116s1001is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-20T19:34:03Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1001 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1001 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.1001, 116th Congress: Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1001

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-04-03.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s1001/BILLS-116s1001is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-20T19:34:03Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1001 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1001 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.1001, 116th Congress: Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1001

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-04-03.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s1001/BILLS-116s1001is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-20T19:34:03Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1001 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1001 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1001, 116th Congress: Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1001

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-04-03.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s1001/BILLS-116s1001is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-20T19:34:03Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1001 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.