118 S2888 IS: TAP Promotion Act U.S. Senate 2023-09-21 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2888IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 21, 2023Mr. King (for himself, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Rounds, and Mrs. Shaheen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize representatives of veterans service organizations to participate in presentations to promote certain benefits available to veterans during preseparation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the TAP Promotion Act.

2.

Presentation to promote benefits available to veterans in preseparation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program

(a)

In general

Section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(20)A presentation that promotes the benefits available to veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Such presentation—(A)shall be standardized;(B)shall, before implementation, be reviewed and approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with veterans service organizations that provide claims assistance under the benefits delivery at discharge program of the Department of Veterans Affairs;(C)shall be submitted by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives for review at least 90 days before implementation;(D)where available, shall be presented with the participation of—(i)a representative of a veterans service organization recognized under section 5902 of title 38; or(ii)an individual—(I)recognized under section 5903 of such title; and (II)authorized by the Secretary concerned to so participate;(E)shall include information on how a veterans service organization may assist the member in filing a claim described in paragraph (19);(F)may not encourage the member to join a particular veterans service organization; and(G)may not exceed one hour in duration..(b)

Annual report

Not less than frequently than once each year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that—(1)identifies each veterans service organization that participated in a presentation under paragraph (20) of section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a);(2)contains the number of members of the Armed Forces who attended such presentations; and(3)includes any recommendations of the Secretary regarding changes to such presentation or to such paragraph.