H.R. 1276 · 117th Congress · House

SAVE LIVES Act

Enacted· Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Introduced
Feb 24, 21
Passed House
Mar 9, 21
Passed Senate
Mar 17, 21
Sent to President
Mar 23, 21
Signed into Law
Mar 24, 21

Executive Summary

Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize All Veterans and Every Spouse Act or the SAVE LIVES Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine to covered individuals during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Under the bill, covered individuals are

  • veterans who are not eligible to enroll in the VA health care system;
  • specified veterans who are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care abroad;
  • beneficiaries who are eligible for care due to a specified disability or death of a veteran;
  • family caregivers of veterans who are participating in the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;
  • caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Program of General Caregiver Support Services;
  • caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program; and
  • the spouses of veterans.

The VA must prioritize the vaccination of (1) veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system, (2) veterans who fail to enroll but receive hospital care and medical services for specified disabilities in their first 12 months of separation from service, and (3) caregivers accompanying such prioritized veterans.

Under the bill, the VA is authorized to determine the timing for offering a vaccine to the spouse of a veteran.

Previous Versions

55Mar 17, 2021

Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize All Veterans and Every Spouse Act or the SAVE LIVES Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine to covered individuals during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Under the bill, covered individuals are

  • veterans who are not eligible to enroll in the VA health care system;
  • specified veterans who are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care abroad;
  • beneficiaries who are eligible for care due to a specified disability or death of a veteran;
  • family caregivers of veterans who are participating in the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;
  • caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Program of General Caregiver Support Services;
  • caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program; and
  • the spouses of veterans.

The VA must prioritize the vaccination of (1) veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system, (2) veterans who fail to enroll but receive hospital care and medical services for specified disabilities in their first 12 months of separation from service, and (3) caregivers accompanying such prioritized veterans.

Under the bill, the VA is authorized to determine the timing for offering a vaccine to the spouse of a veteran.

53Mar 9, 2021

Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans' and Caregivers' COVID-19 Immunizations Now Expanded Act of 2021 or the VA VACCINE Act of 2021

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine to covered individuals during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Under the bill, covered individuals are

  • veterans who are not eligible to enroll in the VA health care system;
  • specified veterans who are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care abroad;
  • family caregivers who are approved as providers of personal care services for veterans under the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;
  • caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Program of General Caregiver Support Services; and
  • caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program.

The VA must prioritize the vaccination of (1) veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system, (2) veterans who fail to enroll but receive hospital care and medical services for specified disabilities in their first 12 months of separation from service, and (3) caregivers accompanying such prioritized veterans. Additionally, vaccines furnished abroad are authorized to be furnished in a geographic location other than a state regardless of whether vaccines are needed for the treatment of veterans with a service-connected disability (including those participating in a VA rehabilitation program).

00Feb 24, 2021

Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans' and Caregivers' COVID-19 Immunizations Now Expanded Act of 2021 or the VA VACCINE Act of 2021

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine to covered individuals during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Under the bill, covered individuals are

  • veterans who are not eligible to enroll in the VA health care system;
  • specified veterans who are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care abroad;
  • family caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;
  • caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Program of General Caregiver Support Services; and
  • caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program.

The VA must prioritize the vaccination of veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system. Additionally, vaccines furnished abroad are authorized regardless of whether vaccines are needed for the treatment of veterans with a service-connected disability (including those participating in a VA rehabilitation program).

Action Timeline

26
  1. JUN 16, 2021Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  2. MAR 24, 2021BecameLaw

    Signed by President.

  3. MAR 24, 2021President

    Signed by President.

  4. MAR 24, 2021BecameLaw

    Became Public Law No: 117-4.

    117Yea
    4Nay
    0NV
  5. MAR 24, 2021President

    Became Public Law No: 117-4.

    117Yea
    4Nay
    0NV
  6. MAR 23, 2021President

    Presented to President.

  7. MAR 23, 2021Floor

    Presented to President.

  8. MAR 19, 2021Floor

    Mr

    Takano asked unanimous consent to take the bill, H.R. 1276, from the Speaker's Table and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H1603)

  9. MAR 19, 2021NotUsed

    Resolving differences -- House actions

    On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(text: CR H1603)

  10. MAR 19, 2021ResolvingDifferences

    On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H1603)

  11. MAR 19, 2021ResolvingDifferences

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  12. MAR 18, 2021Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  13. MAR 17, 2021Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent

    (consideration: CR S1620)

  14. MAR 17, 2021Floor

    Passed/agreed to in Senate

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1620)

  15. MAR 17, 2021Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote

    (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1620)

  16. MAR 10, 2021IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate, read twice.

  17. MAR 09, 2021Floor

    Mr

    Takano asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

  18. MAR 09, 2021Committee

    Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.

  19. MAR 09, 2021Discharge

    Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.

  20. MAR 09, 2021Floor

    Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration

    CR H1178; text: CR H1178)

  21. MAR 09, 2021Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    On passage Passed without objection.

  22. MAR 09, 2021Floor

    On passage Passed without objection.

  23. MAR 09, 2021Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  24. FEB 24, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  25. FEB 24, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  26. FEB 24, 2021IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Committees

3

Health Subcommittee

hsvr03

Referred: Jun 16, 2021

Active

Veterans' Affairs Committee

hsvr00

Referred: Mar 10, 2021

Active

Veterans' Affairs Committee

hsvr00

Referred: Feb 24, 2021

Active