[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2953 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2953

  To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve outreach programs 
 carried out by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for more 
   fully informing veterans of benefits available to them under laws 
           administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 27, 2000

Mr. Torricelli introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve outreach programs 
 carried out by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for more 
   fully informing veterans of benefits available to them under laws 
           administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

    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 ``Veterans' Right to Know Act''.

SEC. 2. VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

    (a) Information on Veterans Benefits.--Section 7722(c) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(c)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) Whenever a veteran or dependent first applies for any benefit 
under laws administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall provide 
to the veteran or dependent information concerning eligibility for 
benefits and health care services under programs administered by the 
Secretary. For purposes of this paragraph, a request for burial or 
related benefits, including an application for life insurance proceeds, 
shall be treated by the Secretary as an initial application for 
dependent's benefits.
    ``(3) Information provided under this subsection shall include 
information on how to apply for benefits for which the veteran or 
dependent may be eligible, including information about assistance 
available under subsection (d).
    ``(4) In the case of veterans or dependents who are members of 
distinct beneficiary populations (such as survivors of veterans), the 
Secretary shall ensure that information provided under this subsection 
includes specific information about benefits relating to that 
population.''.
    (b) Annual Outreach Plan.--(1) Chapter 77 of such title is amended 
by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 7727. Annual outreach plan
    ``(a) The Secretary shall prepare an annual plan for the conduct of 
outreach activities under this subchapter. The Secretary shall include 
in the annual plan--
            ``(1) efforts to identify veterans who are not otherwise 
        enrolled or registered with the Department for benefits or 
        services under programs administered by the Secretary; and
            ``(2) provisions for informing veterans and dependents of 
        any changes in benefit programs or health care eligibility.
    ``(b) In developing the annual plan, the Secretary shall consult 
with the following:
            ``(1) Directors or other responsible officials of veterans 
        service organizations.
            ``(2) Directors or other responsible officials of local 
        education and training programs.
            ``(3) Representatives of veterans outreach programs.
            ``(4) Local veterans employment representatives.
            ``(5) Business and professional organizations.
            ``(6) Other appropriate individuals or organizations that 
        could assist veterans in adjusting to a self-sufficient 
        civilian life.
    ``(c) The annual report required by section 7726 of this title 
shall include specific information concerning the effectiveness of the 
outreach plan developed pursuant to this section.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``7727. Annual outreach plan.''.
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