Frontlines to Lifelines Act of 2015

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-201.

S.297 through Congress

S.297 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

SenateJan 28, 2015IntroducedOfficial record

Major milestones in the imported record. See all actions.

No House action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related House measures (1)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the House stage of S.297.

Related House bill: H.R.1247 Improving Veterans Access to Quality Care Act of 2015

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 28, 2015

Frontlines to Lifelines Act of 2015

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to revive, for a three-year period, VA's Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program that was carried out between January 2013 and February 2014. Requires VA to: (1) expand the pilot program to include at least 250 intermediate care technicians, and (2) give priority in assigning those technicians to VA facilities at which veterans have the longest wait times.

Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to transfer credentialing data regarding DOD health care providers that are hired by VA to VA.

Authorizes VA to allow a covered nurse to practice independently, without the supervision or direction of others, under a set of VA-approved privileges, regardless of the state in which VA employs the covered nurse. Defines a "covered nurse" as an advanced practice registered nurse who is employed by VA as: (1) a nurse midwife; (2) a clinical nurse specialist, with respect to the provision of mental health care; or (3) a nurse practitioner.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL] · R–IL

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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

Jun 3, 2015
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-201.
Jan 28, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jan 28, 2015
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 · Jan 28, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 1247 · Improving Veterans Access to Quality Care Act of 2015

Source last updated: Dec 5, 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.297 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.297, 114th Congress: Frontlines to Lifelines Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/297

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s297/BILLS-114s297is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T18:04:45Z. 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.297 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.297 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.297, 114th Congress: Frontlines to Lifelines Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/297

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s297/BILLS-114s297is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T18:04:45Z. 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.297 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.297 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.297, 114th Congress: Frontlines to Lifelines Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/297

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s297/BILLS-114s297is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T18:04:45Z. 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.297 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.297 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.297, 114th Congress: Frontlines to Lifelines Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/297

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s297/BILLS-114s297is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T18:04:45Z. 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.297 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.