A bill to authorize the establishment in the Department of Veterans Affairs of a center for technical assistance for non-Department health care providers who furnish care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 23, 2011

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a center for technical assistance to assist non-VA health providers who furnish care to veterans in rural areas. Makes the head of such center the Director of the Rural Veterans Health Care Technical Assistance Center. Requires the Secretary, in selecting the center's location, to give preference to a location that, among other things: (1) has a high number of veterans in rural and highly rural areas, and (2) is near one or more entities carrying out programs and activities relating to health care for rural populations.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · D–MT

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]

Legislative record

Actions

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

Jun 27, 2012
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
Sep 23, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Sep 23, 2011
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 · Sep 23, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1631 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1631, 112th Congress: A bill to authorize the establishment in the Department of Veterans Affairs of a center for technical assistance for non-Department health care providers who furnish care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1631

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1631/BILLS-112s1631is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:20:32Z. 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.1631 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.1631 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1631, 112th Congress: A bill to authorize the establishment in the Department of Veterans Affairs of a center for technical assistance for non-Department health care providers who furnish care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1631

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1631/BILLS-112s1631is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:20:32Z. 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.1631 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.1631 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1631, 112th Congress: A bill to authorize the establishment in the Department of Veterans Affairs of a center for technical assistance for non-Department health care providers who furnish care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1631

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1631/BILLS-112s1631is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:20:32Z. 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.1631 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.1631 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.1631, 112th Congress: A bill to authorize the establishment in the Department of Veterans Affairs of a center for technical assistance for non-Department health care providers who furnish care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1631

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1631/BILLS-112s1631is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:20:32Z. 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.1631 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.