Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide grants to states and Indian tribes to implement programs that improve outreach and assistance to veterans and their families to ensure that such individuals are fully informed about veterans' benefits and programs.
Specifically, the VA may provide grants to states and tribes to (1) implement or enhance outreach activities; (2) increase the number of county or tribal veterans service officers in the state or tribe; or (3) expand, implement, or otherwise enhance existing programs and services of the existing state or tribal organization that is recognized by the VA in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for veterans benefits through representatives who hold positions as county or tribal veterans service officers.
The VA must prioritize awarding grants in areas with a critical shortage of county or tribal veterans service officers, areas with high rates of suicide among veterans, and areas with high rates of referrals to the Veterans Crisis Line.
During FY2024-FY2028, the VA is authorized to hire two or more additional full-time equivalent employees in the VA's Office of General Counsel to carry out duties under the accreditation, discipline, and fees program.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 984 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 984
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to award grants to States to improve outreach to
veterans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 10, 2023
Mr. Levin (for himself, Mrs. Rodgers of Washington, Mr. Pappas, and Mr.
Finstad) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to award grants to States to improve outreach to
veterans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Commitment to Veteran Support and
Outreach Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO AWARD GRANTS TO
STATES AND INDIAN TRIBES TO IMPROVE OUTREACH TO VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 6307 and 6308 and sections
6308 and 6309, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 6306 the following new
section 6307:
``Sec. 6307. Grants to States and Indian Tribes to improve outreach to
veterans
``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to provide for
assistance by the Secretary to States and Indian Tribes to carry out
programs that--
``(1) improve outreach and assistance to veterans and the
spouses, children, and parents of veterans, to ensure that such
individuals are fully informed about any veterans and veterans-
related benefits and programs (including veterans programs of a
State or Indian Tribe) for which they may be eligible; and
``(2) facilitate opportunities for such individuals to
receive competent, qualified services in the preparation,
presentation, and prosecution of veterans benefits claims.
``(b) Authority.--The Secretary may award grants under this section
to States and Indian Tribes--
``(1) to carry out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise
enhance outreach activities;
``(2) to increase the number of county or Tribal veterans
service officers serving in the State or Indian Tribe by hiring
new, additional such officers; or
``(3) to expand, carry out, coordinate, improve, or
otherwise enhance existing programs, activities, and services
of the existing organization of the State or Indian Tribe that
has been recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs
pursuant to section 5902, in the preparation, presentation, and
prosecution of claims for veterans benefits through
representatives who hold positions as county or Tribal veterans
service officers.
``(c) Application.--(1) To be eligible for a grant under this
section, a State or Indian Tribe shall submit to the Secretary an
application therefor at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include
the following:
``(A) A detailed plan for the use of the grant.
``(B) A description of the programs through which the State
or Indian Tribe will meet the outcome measures developed by the
Secretary under subsection (i).
``(C) A description of how the State or Indian Tribe will
distribute grant amounts equitably among counties (or Tribal
lands, as the case may be) with varying levels of urbanization.
``(D) A plan for how the grant will be used to meet the
unique needs of American Indian or Alaska Native veterans,
elderly veterans, women veterans, and veterans from other
underserved communities.
``(d) Distribution.--The Secretary shall seek to ensure that grants
awarded under this section are equitably distributed among States and
Indian Tribes with varying levels of urbanization.
``(e) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize awarding grants
under this section that will serve the following areas:
``(1) Areas with a critical shortage of county or Tribal
veterans service officers.
``(2) Areas with high rates of--
``(A) suicide among veterans; or
``(B) referrals to the Veterans Crisis Line.
``(f) Use of County or Tribal Veterans Service Officers.--A State
or Indian Tribe that receives a grant under this section to carry out
an activity described in subsection (b)(1) may only carry out the
activity through--
``(1) a county or Tribal veterans service officer of the
State or Indian Tribe; or
``(2) if the State or Indian Tribe does not have a county
or Tribal veterans service officer, or if the county or Tribal
veterans service officers of the State or Indian Tribe cover
only a portion of that State or Indian Tribe, an appropriate
entity of a State, local, or Tribal government, as determined
by the Secretary.
``(g) Required Activities.--Any grant awarded under this section
shall be used--
``(1) to expand existing programs, activities, and
services;
``(2) to hire and maintain new, additional county or Tribal
veterans service officers; or
``(3) for travel and transportation to facilitate carrying
out paragraph (1) or (2).
``(h) Other Permissible Activities.--A grant under this section may
be used to provide education and training, including on-the-job
training, for State, county, local, and Tribal government employees who
provide (or when trained will provide) veterans outreach services in
order for those employees to obtain and maintain accreditation in
accordance with procedures approved by the Secretary.
``(i) Outcome Measures.--(1) The Secretary shall develop and
provide to each State or Indian Tribe that receives a grant under this
section written guidance on the following:
``(A) Outcome measures.
``(B) Policies of the Department.
``(2) In developing outcome measures under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall consider the following goals:
``(A) Increasing the use of veterans and veterans-related
benefits, particularly among vulnerable populations.
``(B) Increasing the number of county and Tribal veterans
service officers recognized by the Secretary for the
representation of veterans under chapter 59 of this title.
``(j) Tracking Requirements.--(1) With respect to each grant
awarded under this section, the Secretary shall track the use of
veterans benefits among the population served by the grant, including
the average period of time between the date on which a veteran or other
eligible claimant applies for such a benefit and the date on which the
veteran or other eligible claimant receives the benefit, disaggregated
by type of benefit.
``(2) Not less frequently than annually during the life of the
grant program established under this section, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report on--
``(A) the information tracked under paragraph (1);
``(B) how the grants awarded under this section serve the
unique needs of American Indian or Alaska Native veterans,
elderly veterans, women veterans, and veterans from other
underserved communities; and
``(C) other information provided by States and Indian
Tribes pursuant to the grant reporting requirements.
``(k) Performance Review.--(1) The Secretary shall--
``(A) review the performance of each State or Indian Tribe
that receives a grant under this section; and
``(B) make information regarding such performance publicly
available.
``(l) Remediation Plan.--(1) In the case of a State or Indian Tribe
that receives a grant under this section and does not meet the outcome
measures developed by the Secretary under subsection (i), the Secretary
shall require the State or Indian Tribe to submit a remediation plan
under which the State or Indian Tribe shall describe how and when it
plans to meet such outcome measures.
``(2) The Secretary may not award a subsequent grant under this
section to a State or Indian Tribe described in paragraph (1) unless
the Secretary approves the remediation plan submitted by the State of
Indian Tribe.
``(m) Maximum Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under this
section may not exceed 10 percent of amounts made available for grants
under this section for the fiscal year in which the grant is awarded.
``(n) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Any grant awarded under this
section shall be used to supplement and not supplant State and local
funding that is otherwise available.
``(o) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `county or Tribal veterans service officer'
includes a local equivalent veterans service officer.
``(2) The term `Indian Tribe' has the meaning given such
term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(3) The term `State' includes the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, and any territory or possession of
the United States.
``(4) The term `Veterans Crisis Line' means the toll-free
hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of this
title.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 63 of such title is amended by striking the items relating to
sections 6307 and 6308 and inserting the following new items:
``6307. Grants to States and Indian Tribes to improve outreach to
veterans.
``6308. Outreach for eligible dependents.
``6309. Biennial report to Congress.''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2028, $50,000,000 to carry out section 6307 of title
38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
(d) Authorization of Additional Full-Time Equivalent Employee.--
During fiscal years 2024 through 2028, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs may hire two or more additional full-time equivalent employees
in the Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, as compared to the number of full-time equivalent employees
that would otherwise be authorized for such office, to carry out duties
under the accreditation, discipline, and fees program.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
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