Smoking Ban at Veterans Health Facilities
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and is being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. It was recently introduced and referred to this committee for further study. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
The bill has support from both parties and focuses on health, but many bills struggle to get a full vote in a busy legislative schedule.
Key Points
- This bill would ban smoking and vaping at every Veterans Health Administration location. This includes all land and buildings like medical centers, nursing homes, and outpatient clinics run by the VA.
- The ban applies to everyone on the property. This means veterans, patients, staff members, contractors, and visitors would no longer be allowed to smoke or use electronic cigarettes anywhere on the grounds.
- The rule covers traditional tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. It also includes modern devices like vape pens and e-cigarettes.
- By passing this law, Congress would remove an older rule that allowed for designated smoking areas at these facilities. The goal is to create a completely smoke-free environment for people seeking healthcare.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S3534)
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(3)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.