[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 405 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 405

  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

                           February 27, 2001

Mr. Torricelli (for himself, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Corzine) 
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) Annual Plan Required.--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) Consultation.--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) Report on Effectiveness.--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.''.
                                 <all>