[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2411 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2411

   To provide improved benefits and procedures for the transition of 
 members of the Armed Forces from combat zones to noncombat zones and 
  for the transition of veterans from service in the Armed Forces to 
                             civilian life.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 17, 2005

  Mr. Meehan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on 
     Veterans' Affairs and Financial Services, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide improved benefits and procedures for the transition of 
 members of the Armed Forces from combat zones to noncombat zones and 
  for the transition of veterans from service in the Armed Forces to 
                             civilian life.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Matthew Boisvert 
Help Extend Respect Owed to Every Soldier (HEROES) Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                          TITLE I--HEALTH CARE

Sec. 101. Minimum standards for postdeployment medical examinations.
Sec. 102. Early identification and treatment of mental health and 
                            substance abuse disorders.
Sec. 103. Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment for veterans.
Sec. 104. Contracts for mental health and substance abuse treatment 
                            services not available through Department 
                            of Veterans Affairs clinics.
Sec. 105. Transmittal to Department of Veterans Affairs of medical 
                            records of all members separating from 
                            active duty.
Sec. 106. Post-deployment health tracking for veterans of Operation 
                            Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 
                            Freedom.
                    TITLE II--TRANSITION ASSISTANCE

Sec. 201. Reauthorization of Service Members Occupational Conversion 
                            and Training Act.
Sec. 202. Enhancement of preseparation counseling and transition 
                            services.
Sec. 203. Department of Labor transitional assistance program.
Sec. 204. General requirements for transition programs.
Sec. 205. Information sharing between Department of Defense and 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 206. Expansion of Department of Veterans Affairs outreach 
                            services.
                        TITLE III--HOMEOWNERSHIP

Sec. 301. Mortgage assistance.
                          TITLE IV--EDUCATION

Sec. 401. Repeal of $1,200 reduction in basic pay required for 
                            participation in Montgomery GI Bill 
                            educational assistance program.

                          TITLE I--HEALTH CARE

SEC. 101. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR POSTDEPLOYMENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS.

    (a) Quality Assurance.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish an 
effective quality assurance program that will help ensure that the 
Armed Forces comply with the requirements of section 1074f(d) of title 
10, United States Code, in making physical and mental health 
examinations comprehensive.
    (b) Uniform Applicability.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
content and standards prescribed for predeployment and postdeployment 
medical examinations are applied uniformly at all installations and 
medical facilities of the Armed Forces where medical examinations 
required under this section are performed for members of the Armed 
Forces returning from a deployment.
    (c) Physical Examinations.--
            (1) Timing.--The physical examination of a member under 
        this subsection shall be conducted before the member receives 
        preseparation counseling under section 1142 of this title.
            (2) Purpose.--The purpose of a physical examination 
        conducted for a member under this subsection shall be--
                    (A) to determine the immediate health care needs, 
                if any, of the member as of separation and the ongoing 
                health care needs, if any, of the member after 
                separation; and
                    (B) to identify any illness, injury, or other 
                medical condition that may make the member eligible for 
                benefits as a veteran under the laws administered by 
                the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
            (3) Inclusion on separation form.--The results of the 
        physical examination of a member under this subsection shall be 
        included on the separation form of the member designated as 
        Department of Defense Form DD-214 (or any successor form).
            (4) Transmittal to va.--The Secretary concerned shall 
        transmit in electronic form to the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs the results of each physical examination conducted by 
        such Secretary under this subsection.
    (d) Inclusion of Screening for Mental Health and Substance Abuse 
Disorders.--Any such postdeployment medical examination shall include 
content and standards for screening for mental health disorders and 
substance abuse disorders. In the case of acute post-traumatic stress 
disorder and delayed onset post-traumatic stress disorder, such 
examination shall specifically include a personal evaluation to 
identify stressors experienced by servicemembers that have the 
potential to lead to post-traumatic stress disorders.
    (e) Limitation.--An examination consisting solely or primarily of 
an assessment questionnaire completed by a member does not meet the 
requirements of this subsection for a medical examination and does not 
meet the requirements of this section for an assessment.
    (f) Waiver Prohibited.--An examination of a member required under 
this section may not be waived by the Secretary (or any official 
exercising the Secretary's authority under this section) or by the 
member.
    (g) Follow-Up Services.--
            (1) Assistance to member.--The Secretary of Defense, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall 
        ensure that appropriate actions are taken to assist a member 
        who, as a result of a medical examination carried out under the 
        system established under this section, is identified or 
        suspected as having an illness (including any mental health 
        condition) or injury.
            (2) Required assistance.--Assistance required to be 
        provided a member under paragraph (1) includes the following:
                    (A) Care and treatment and other services that the 
                Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Veterans 
                Affairs may provide such member under any other 
                provision of law, as follows:
                            (i) Clinical services, including counseling 
                        and treatment for post-traumatic stress 
                        disorder and other mental health and substance 
                        abuse conditions.
                            (ii) Any other care, treatment, and 
                        services.
                    (B) Assistance to enroll in the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs health care system for health care 
                benefits for which the member is eligible under laws 
                administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

SEC. 102. EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND 
              SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS.

    (a) Activities.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out 
activities to foster the early identification and treatment of mental 
health and substance abuse problems experienced by members of the Armed 
Forces, with special emphasis on members who have served in a theater 
of combat operations within the preceding 12 months.
    (b) Required Activities.--The activities carried out by the 
Secretary under subsection (a) shall include the following:
            (1) Conduct of a series of campaigns that use mass media 
        (including radio and television) and other public education 
        tools to change attitudes within the Armed Forces regarding 
        mental health and substance abuse treatment, with the aim of 
        lessening the stigma associated with mental health and 
        substance abuse problems and the treatment of such problems, 
        including the development of pertinent messaging targeted to--
                    (A) members of the Armed Forces who may be 
                experiencing mental health or substance abuse problems 
                and their family members;
                    (B) commanders and supervisory personnel; and
                    (C) peers of servicemembers who may be experiencing 
                mental health or substance abuse problems or be at risk 
                of such problems.
            (2) Establishment and implementation at military 
        installations at which family members of servicemembers reside 
        or congregate of education programs to complement the series of 
        campaigns required under paragraph (1) to help those family 
        members--
                    (A) recognize signs of mental health or substance 
                abuse problems;
                    (B) cope with such problems; and
                    (C) assist such servicemembers in seeking care.
            (3) Conduct of peer-support training programs at military 
        installations to complement the education programming required 
        under paragraph (2) aimed at having peers encourage 
        servicemembers, as indicated, to seek mental health and 
        substance abuse treatment treatment.
            (4) Conduct of education and training programs for command 
        and supervisory personnel at military installations to 
        complement the education programming required under paragraph 
        (2), including education and training programs on prevention of 
        suicide.
            (5) Establishment and implementation of continuing medical 
        education and training programs on recognizing signs of mental 
        health and substance abuse problems for all clinicians 
        (including physicians and nursing personnel) who provide 
        primary medical care to servicemembers and their dependents.
    (c) Contractors for Public Awareness Campaigns.--In carrying out 
the activities required by paragraph (1) of subsection (b), the 
Secretary shall contract with private not-for-profit entities that have 
experience in conducting public education activities aimed at reducing 
the stigma surrounding mental illness and substance abuse to assist in 
designing the mass media campaigns required by that paragraph.
    (d) Contractors for Design and Implementation of Education and 
Training Activities.--In carrying out the education and training 
activities required by paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b), 
the Secretary shall contract with private not-for-profit entities in 
proximity to military installations at which such activities are to be 
conducted and that have experience in promoting mental health and 
preventing mental and substance abuse disorders to assist in designing 
and implementing such education and training programs.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2006 the sum 
of $70,000,000 for programs under this section, as follows:
            (1) For mass media campaigns under subsection (b)(1), 
        $30,000,000.
            (2) For family support programs under subsection (b)(2), 
        $10,000,000.
            (3) For peer programs under subsection (b)(3), $10,000,000.
            (4) For command programs under subsection (b)(4), 
        $10,000,000.
            (5) For continuing education programs under subsection 
        (b)(5), $10,000,000

SEC. 103. POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER TREATMENT FOR VETERANS.

    (a) Enhanced Capacity for Department of Veterans Affairs.--The 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall employ at least one psychiatrist 
and a complementary clinical team at each medical center of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in order to conduct a specialized 
program for the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress 
disorder and to employ additional mental health services specialists at 
the medical center.
    (b) Nationwide Outreach.--
            (1) Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
        out a program to provide nation-wide outreach, including 
        outreach at the community level, to veterans who are or may be 
        suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
            (2) Program sites.--The program shall be carried out on a 
        nation-wide basis, including outreach at the community level, 
        by facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (3) Program content.--In carrying out the outreach program 
        under this subsection, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) conduct a public education campaign to promote 
                early identification of symptoms of post-traumatic 
                stress disorder and other mental health and substance 
                abuse disorders that may be associated with service in 
                the Armed Forces; and
                    (B) seek to raise awareness of services offered by 
                the Department of Veterans Affairs to diagnose and 
                treat post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental 
                health and substance abuse disorders that may be 
                associated with service in the Armed Forces, including 
                individualized case management, counseling, education, 
                and group therapy.

SEC. 104. CONTRACTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT 
              SERVICES NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS CLINICS.

    Section 1703(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(9) Psychiatric and mental health services and substance 
        abuse treatment services.''.

SEC. 105. TRANSMITTAL TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF MEDICAL 
              RECORDS OF ALL MEMBERS SEPARATING FROM ACTIVE DUTY.

    Chapter 58 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting before subsection (c) of section 1142 the 
        following:
``Sec. 1142a. Members separating from active duty: transmittal of 
              medical records to Department of Veterans Affairs'';
            (2) in section 1142a, as designated by paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``(c) Transmittal of Medical 
                Information to Department of Veterans Affairs.--'';
                    (B) by striking ``a member being medically 
                separated or being retired under chapter 61 of this 
                title'' and inserting ``each member of the armed forces 
                being discharged, released from active duty, or 
                retired'';
                    (C) by striking ``60 days'' and inserting ``seven 
                days''; and
                    (D) by inserting ``of the member'' before the 
                period at the end.

SEC. 106. POST-DEPLOYMENT HEALTH TRACKING FOR VETERANS OF OPERATION 
              IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

    (a) Roster.--The Secretary of Defense shall transmit to the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as soon as practicable after enactment 
of this Act, a roster (including names, dates of birth, and social 
security numbers) of all members of the Armed Forces who have served in 
the theater of operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation 
Enduring Freedom. The Secretary of Defense shall transmit updated 
rosters to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs every 180 days thereafter.
    (b) Purpose.--The information on the roster transmitted under 
subsection (a) shall be used to record demographic information on the 
individuals on the roster and their mental and physical health history, 
including signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
    (c) Notification.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify 
the individuals on the roster of any significant developments in 
research on the health consequences of military service during the 
operations specified in subsection (a).

                    TITLE II--TRANSITION ASSISTANCE

SEC. 201. REAUTHORIZATION OF SERVICE MEMBERS OCCUPATIONAL CONVERSION 
              AND TRAINING ACT.

    (a) Employment Training Assistance.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
carry out a program to assist eligible persons in obtaining employment 
through participation in programs of significant training for 
employment in stable and permanent positions. The program shall be 
carried out through payments to employers who employ and train eligible 
persons in such positions, to defray the costs of necessary training.
    (b) Agreements With State Agencies.--The Secretary (or other 
implementing official) may enter into contracts or agreements with 
State approving agencies (as designated pursuant to section 3671 of 
title 38, United States Code) or other State agencies to carry out 
duties under the program. The Secretary (or other implementing 
official) shall require each such State approving agency or other State 
agency to submit to the Secretary (or other official) a monthly 
certification of charges submitted for expenses under the program.
    (c) Eligible Persons.--For purposes of the program under this 
section, a person is an eligible person if the person, while a member 
of the Armed Forces on active duty, served in Operation Enduring 
Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
    (d) Incorporation of Provisions of 1992 Act.--In carrying out the 
program under this section, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable, incorporate the provisions of the Service Members 
Occupational Conversion and Training Act of 1992 (10 U.S.C. 1143 note).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 a total of $45,000,000 for 
the program under this section.

SEC. 202. ENHANCEMENT OF PRESEPARATION COUNSELING AND TRANSITION 
              SERVICES.

    (a) Preseparation Counseling and Transition Services.--Subsection 
(a) of section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence of paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``shall (except as provided in 
                paragraph (4)) provide for individual preseparation 
                counseling of'' and inserting ``shall (except as 
                provided in paragraph (7)) provide individual 
                preseparation counseling and additional individualized 
                transition services to''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``under conditions other than 
                dishonorable'' after ``active duty'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (7); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
        paragraphs:
    ``(4) For a member of a reserve component being separated from 
service on active duty for a period of more than 30 days, the Secretary 
concerned shall require that preseparation counseling and services 
under this section be provided to such member before the member is 
separated.
    ``(5) The Secretary concerned shall ensure that commanders of 
members who are required to be provided preseparation counseling and 
services under this section authorize the members to be provided such 
counseling and services during duty time.''.
    (b) Individualized Transitional Services.--Subsection (b) of such 
section is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Counseling.--Counseling under'' and 
        inserting ``Counseling and Additional Individualized 
        Transitional Services.--Counseling and additional 
        individualized transitional assistance under'';
            (2) by striking ``(4) Information concerning Government'' 
        and inserting the following:
            ``(4) Provision of information concerning civilian 
        occupations and related assistance programs, including 
        information about--
                    ``(A) certification and licensure requirements that 
                are applicable to civilian occupations;
                    ``(B) civilian occupations that correspond to 
                military occupational specialties; and
                    ``(C) Government''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
            ``(11) Information concerning the priority of service for 
        veterans in the receipt of employment, training, and placement 
        services provided under qualified job training programs of the 
        Department of Labor.
            ``(12) Information concerning veterans small business 
        ownership and entrepreneurship programs of the Small Business 
        Administration and the National Veterans Business Development 
        Corporation.
            ``(13) Information concerning employment and reemployment 
        rights and obligations under chapter 43 of title 38.
            ``(14) Information concerning veterans preference in 
        Federal employment and Federal procurement opportunities.
            ``(15) Information concerning homelessness, including risk 
        factors, awareness assessment, and contact information for 
        preventative assistance associated with homelessness.
            ``(16) Contact information for housing counseling and 
        assistance.
            ``(17) A description (to be developed with the assistance 
        of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) of the health care and 
        other benefits to which the member may be entitled under the 
        laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
            ``(18) In the case of a member who, as determined pursuant 
        to the preseparation physical examination conducted under 
        section 1145(d) of this title, may be eligible for compensation 
        benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs, a referral (to be provided with the 
        assistance of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) for a medical 
        examination by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs referred to as 
        a compensation and pension examination.''.
    (c) Additional Requirements.--Section 1142 of such title is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(c) Content Relevant to Regular and Reserve Component Members.--
The Secretary concerned shall ensure that preseparation counseling and 
services under this section include material that is specifically 
relevant to the needs of members being separated from active duty from 
a regular component, the needs of members of the reserve components 
being separated from active duty, and the needs of members of the 
National Guard being separated from full-time National Guard duty.
    ``(d) Locations for Services to Be Provided.--The Secretary 
concerned shall ensure that the locations at which preseparation 
counseling and services are provided under this section include the 
following:
            ``(1) Each military installation under the jurisdiction of 
        the Secretary.
            ``(2) Each armory and military family support center of the 
        National Guard.
            ``(3) Each inpatient medical care facility of the uniformed 
        services.
            ``(4) In the case of a member on the temporary disability 
        retired list under section 1202 or 1205 of this title who is 
        being retired under another provision of this title or is being 
        discharged, a location reasonably convenient to the member.
    ``(e) Consistency of Materials.--The Secretary concerned shall 
ensure that the scope and content of the materials presented as part of 
preseparation counseling and services at each location under this 
section are consistent with the scope and content of the materials 
presented as part of the preseparation counseling and services at the 
other locations under this section.
    ``(f) Post-Separation Follow-Up for Reserve Component Members.--The 
Secretary concerned shall ensure that follow-up counseling is provided 
for each member of a reserve component separated from active duty not 
later than 180 days after such separation.
    ``(g) Updated Content of Materials.--The Secretary concerned shall, 
on a continuing basis, update the content of the materials used by the 
National Veterans Training Institute and other activities of the 
Secretary that provide direct training support to personnel who provide 
preseparation counseling and other services under this section.
    ``(h) National Guard Members on Duty in State Status.--Members of 
the National Guard being separated from duty to which ordered under 
section 502(f) of title 32 shall be provided preseparation counseling 
and services under this section to the same extent that members of a 
reserve component being discharged or released from active duty are 
provided preseparation counseling and services under this section.
    ``(i) Minimum Required Individualized Services.--(1) In carrying 
out this section, the Secretary concerned ensure that at least eight 
hours of individualized transition assistance services are provided, in 
addition to preseparation counseling and group workshops, for each 
member provided counseling and services under this section.
    ``(2) In order to ensure that the requirements of paragraph (1) are 
met, the Secretary concerned shall ensure, for each fiscal year, that 
there is allocated, from the appropriate operation and maintenance or 
military personnel accounts, such amounts as necessary to provide for 
the individualized transition assistance required under that paragraph 
for each member expected to receive such services during the fiscal 
year.''.
    (d) Clerical Amendments.--(1) The heading for section 1142 of such 
title is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 1142. Members separating from active duty: preseparation 
              counseling and transition services''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 58 of such 
title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1142 and 
inserting the following new items:

``1142. Members separating from active duty: preseparation counseling 
                            and transition services.
``1142a. Members separating from active duty: transmittal of medical 
                            records to Department of Veterans 
                            Affairs.''.

SEC. 203. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Additional Elements of Program.--Subsection (b) of section 1144 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraphs:
            ``(9) Provide information concerning the priority of 
        service for veterans in the receipt of employment, training, 
        and placement services provided under qualified job training 
        programs of the Department of Labor.
            ``(10) Provide information concerning veterans small 
        business ownership and entrepreneurship programs of the Small 
        Business Administration and the National Veterans Business 
        Development Corporation.
            ``(11) Provide information concerning rights and 
        obligations under chapter 43 of title 38.
            ``(12) Provide information concerning veterans preference 
        in Federal employment and Federal procurement opportunities.
            ``(13) Provide information concerning homelessness, 
        including risk factors, awareness assessment, and contact 
        information for preventative assistance associated with 
        homelessness.
            ``(14) Provide contact information for housing counseling 
        and assistance.
            ``(15) Provide a description (to be developed with the 
        assistance of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) of the health 
        care and other benefits to which the member may be entitled 
        under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs.
            ``(16) In the case of a member who, as determined pursuant 
        to the preseparation physical examination conducted under 
        section 1145(d) of this title, may be entitled to compensation 
        under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs, provide a referral (to be provided with the assistance 
        of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) for a medical examination 
        by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs referred to as a 
        compensation and pension examination.''.
    (b) Required Participation for Certain Members.--Subsection (c) of 
such section is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Participation.--(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall require 
participation by members of the armed forces eligible for assistance 
under the program carried out under this section.
    ``(2) The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland 
Security need not require, but shall encourage and otherwise promote, 
participation in the program by the following members described in 
paragraph (1):
            ``(A) A member who has previously participated in the 
        program.
            ``(B) A member who, upon discharge or release from active 
        duty, is returning to--
                    ``(i) a position of employment; or
                    ``(ii) pursuit of an academic degree or other 
                educational or occupational training objective that the 
                members was pursuing when called or ordered to such 
                active duty.
    ``(3) Members of the armed forces eligible for assistance under 
this section include--
            ``(A) members of the reserve components being separated 
        from service on active duty for a period of more than 30 days; 
        and
            ``(B) members of the National Guard being separated from 
        long-term duty.
    ``(4) The Secretary concerned shall ensure that commanders of 
members who are required to be provided assistance under this section 
authorize the members to be provided such assistance during duty 
time''.
    (c) Required Updating of Materials.--Such section is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Updating of Materials.--The Secretary concerned shall, on a 
continuing basis, update the content of the materials used by the 
National Veterans Training Institute of the Department of Labor and the 
Secretary's other materials that provide direct training support to 
personnel who carry out the program established in this section.''.
    (d) Cross-Reference Amendment.--Section 1144(a)(1) of such title is 
amended by striking ``paragraph (4)(A)'' in the second sentence and 
inserting ``paragraph (6)(A)''.

SEC. 204. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSITION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Accessibility of Information.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 58 of title 10, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        sections:
``Sec. 1154. Transition programs: general requirements
    ``(a) Locations.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall ensure that the transition programs for members 
of the armed forces are provided at the following locations:
            ``(1) Each military installation under the jurisdiction of 
        the Secretary.
            ``(2) Each armory and military family support center of the 
        National Guard.
            ``(3) Each inpatient medical care facility of the uniformed 
        services.
            ``(4) In the case of a member on the temporary disability 
        retired list under section 1202 or 1205 of this title who is 
        being retired under another provision of this title or is being 
        discharged, a location reasonably convenient to the member.
    ``(b) Participation of Military and Veterans' Service 
Organizations.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall ensure that representatives of military and veterans' 
service organizations and representatives of military and veterans' 
services agencies of States are permitted to participate in transition 
programs at the locations where assistance under those programs is 
provided.
    ``(c) Transition Programs Defined.--In this section, the term 
`transition programs' means the programs under sections 1142 and 1144 
of this title and any similar programs administered by, in conjunction 
with, or in consultation with the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary 
of Homeland Security.
``Sec. 1155. Veteran-to-veteran preseparation counseling
    ``(a) Cooperation Required.--The Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall carry out a program to facilitate 
the access of representatives of military and veterans' service 
organizations and representatives of military and veterans' services 
agencies of States to provide preseparation counseling and services to 
members of the armed forces who are scheduled, or are in the process of 
being scheduled, for discharge, release from active duty, or 
retirement.
    ``(b) Elements of Program.--The program under this section shall 
include the following elements:
            ``(1) Authorization for representatives of military and 
        veterans' service organizations and representatives of military 
        and veterans' services agencies of States to participate in the 
        preseparation counseling and other assistance provided to 
        members under the programs carried out under sections 1142 and 
        1144 of this title.
            ``(2) Support for the outreach programs of such 
        organizations and agencies by providing the organizations and 
        agencies with the names and addresses of members of the armed 
        forces described in subsection (a).
    ``(c) Locations.--The program under this section shall, subject to 
subsection (e), provide for access to members at the following 
locations:
            ``(1) Each installation of the armed forces.
            ``(2) Each armory and military family support center of the 
        National Guard.
            ``(3) Each inpatient medical care facility of the uniformed 
        services administered under chapter 55 of this title.
            ``(4) In the case of a member on the temporary disability 
        retired list under section 1202 or 1205 of this title who is 
        being retired under another provision of this title or is being 
        discharged, a location reasonably convenient to the member.
    ``(d) Waiver of Access Restrictions.--To carry out elements of the 
program under subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Homeland Security may waive the applicable provisions of 
the regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health 
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d-2 
note) to the extent necessary to ensure that representatives of 
military and veterans' service organizations and representatives of 
military and veterans' services agencies of States have access to 
members and former members of the uniformed services in medical 
treatment facilities of the uniformed services.
    ``(e) Consent of Members Required.--Access to a member of the armed 
forces under the program under this section is subject to the consent 
of the member.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new items:

``1154. Transition programs: general requirements.
``1155. Veteran-to-veteran preseparation counseling.''.
    (b) Department of Veterans Affairs.--
            (1) Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        section:
``Sec. 1709. Veteran-to-veteran counseling
    ``(a) Cooperation Required.--The Secretary shall carry out a 
program to facilitate the access of representatives of military and 
veterans' service organizations and representatives of military and 
veterans' services agencies of States to veterans furnished care and 
services under this chapter to provide information and counseling to 
such veterans on the care and services authorized by this chapter and 
other benefits and services available under the laws administered by 
the Secretary.
    ``(b) Facilities Covered.--The program under this section shall, 
subject to subsection (d), provide for access to veterans described in 
subsection (a) at each facility of the Department or non-Department 
facility at which the Secretary furnishes care and services under this 
chapter.
    ``(c) Waiver of Access Restrictions.--To carry out the program 
under this section, the Secretary may waive the applicable provisions 
of the regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health 
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d-2 
note) to the extent necessary to ensure that representatives of 
military and veterans' service organizations and representatives of 
military and veterans' services agencies of States have access to 
veterans described in subsection (a) at the facilities referred to in 
subsection (b).
    ``(d) Consent of Veterans Required.--Access to a veteran under the 
program under this section is subject to the consent of the veteran.''.
            (2) The table of sections at the beginning of that chapter 
        is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1708 
        the following new item:

``1709. Veteran-to-veteran counseling.''.

SEC. 205. INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall jointly develop protocols to facilitate the 
sharing of information between the Department of Defense and the 
Department of Veterans Affairs on the matters referred to in subsection 
(c) with respect to each member of the Armed Forces.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the protocols under subsection (a) is 
to facilitate determinations by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of 
the existence and extent of a connection of any illness or injury 
experienced by a former member of the Armed Forces after separation 
from the Armed Forces and the exposure of that member to toxic or 
hazardous substances in the course of the member's duties or 
assignments as a member of the Armed Forces.
    (c) Covered Matters.--The matters referred to in this subsection 
with respect to a member of the Armed Forces are as follows:
            (1) The duties and assignments of the member, including the 
        location of such duties and assignments.
            (2) Any exposures of the member in the course of such 
        duties and assignments to toxic or hazardous substances.
            (3) Any illness or injury of the member incurred or 
        aggravated in the course of such duties and assignments.
    (d) Elements of Protocols.--The protocols on the sharing of 
information developed under subsection (a) shall include the following:
            (1) Mechanisms to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs receives information to facilitate the timely and 
        accurate assessment of the illnesses or injuries of a member of 
        the Armed Forces that may have been incurred or aggravated by 
        the member's exposure to toxic or hazardous substances during 
        service in the Armed Forces.
            (2) Mechanisms that provide, to the maximum extent 
        practicable consistent with the national security interests of 
        the United States, for the declassification of information 
        necessary to achieve the purpose of the protocols.
            (3) Procedures to ensure that information is shared under 
        the protocols as a matter of routine operations of the 
        Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (e) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to Congress a report on the 
protocols developed under subsection (a). The report shall include such 
recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the 
Secretaries consider appropriate.

SEC. 206. EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTREACH 
              SERVICES.

    (a) Rescission of Department of Veterans Affairs Memorandum 
Prohibiting Outreach.--The memorandum of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs dated July 18, 2002, from the Deputy Under Secretary for Health 
for Operations and Management with the subject ``Status of VHA 
Enrollment and Associated Issues'' is hereby rescinded. Marketing 
activities of Directors of health service networks (known as ``Veterans 
Integrated Service Networks'') of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
enroll new veterans within their respective networks shall be carried 
out without regard to such memorandum.
    (b) Funding Limitation.--No funds available to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs may be used to carry out the memorandum referred to in 
subsection (a) or otherwise to implement the policy contained in that 
memorandum.
    (c) Veterans at Risk of Homelessness.--Section 2022 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and members of the 
        armed forces separating from active duty'' after ``or 
        imprisonment'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(7) Plans to provide information concerning homelessness, 
        including risk factors, awareness assessment, and contact 
        information for preventative assistance associated with 
        homelessness.''; and
            (3) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``and'' at the end of 
        subparagraph (A), by striking the period at the end of 
        subparagraph (B) and inserting ``; and'', and by adding at the 
        end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(C) provision of information concerning homelessness, 
        including risk factors, awareness assessment, and contact 
        information for preventative assistance associated with 
        homelessness.''.
    (d) Outreach Services.--Section 7722(c) of such title is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(3) The Secretary shall distribute to each veteran information 
concerning homelessness, including risk factors, awareness assessment, 
and contact information for preventative assistance associated with 
homelessness.''.

                        TITLE III--HOMEOWNERSHIP

SEC. 301. MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 230 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 
1715u) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g)(1) The Secretary shall provide assistance and supplemental 
assistance under this subsection with respect to mortgages of members 
of the Armed Forces who are seriously injured during service in the 
Armed Forces, for the purpose of avoiding foreclosure on the mortgages.
    ``(2) An individual shall be eligible for assistance under this 
subsection only if--
            ``(A) the individual has been seriously injured while on 
        active duty in the Armed Forces; and
            ``(B) the income of the individual is materially reduced 
        (in the determination of the Secretary) because of such injury.
    ``(3) A mortgage shall be eligible for assistance under this 
subsection only if--
            ``(A) the mortgagor is an eligible member of the Armed 
        Forces; and
            ``(B) the dwelling that secures the loan subject to the 
        mortgage is the primary residence of the eligible member of the 
        Armed Forces.
    ``(4)(A) Subject only to the availability of amounts provided under 
appropriations Acts, the Secretary shall provide assistance under this 
subsection in the form of monthly payments made by the Secretary to the 
mortgagee of an eligible mortgage on behalf of any eligible member of 
the Armed Forces.
    ``(B) Assistance payments under this paragraph shall be made for 
the 2-year period beginning upon the serious injury of the eligible 
member of the Armed Forces.
    ``(C) Assistance payments under this paragraph shall be in the 
amount determined by the Secretary to be necessary to pay any monthly 
charges during such period for principal, interest, taxes, assessments, 
ground rents, hazard insurance, and mortgage insurance premiums (unless 
otherwise provided under section 222(c)), and may include an amount 
necessary to make the payments on the mortgage current.
    ``(5)(A) Subject only to the availability of amounts provided under 
appropriations Acts, the Secretary shall provide supplemental 
assistance under this subsection in the form of monthly supplemental 
payments made by the Secretary to the mortgagee of an eligible mortgage 
on behalf of any eligible member of the Armed Forces.
    ``(B) Supplemental assistance payments under this paragraph shall 
be made for the period beginning upon the expiration of the 2-year 
period under paragraph (4)(B) and ending upon payment in full of the 
obligation under the eligible mortgage.
    ``(C) Supplemental assistance payments under this paragraph shall 
be made in the amount equal to the difference between--
            ``(i) the amount determined by the Secretary to be 
        necessary to pay any monthly charges for principal, interest, 
        taxes, assessments, ground rents, hazard insurance, and 
        mortgage insurance premiums (unless otherwise provided under 
        section 222(c)); and
            ``(ii) 30 percent of the monthly income of the household of 
        the mortgagor.
    ``(D) Supplemental assistance payments under this paragraph may 
include an amount necessary to make the payments on the mortgage 
current.
    ``(6) The Secretary may prescribe additional requirements to carry 
out this subsection.
    ``(7) For purposes of this subsection:
            ``(A) The term `active duty' means full-time duty in the 
        active military service of the United States. The term includes 
        full-time training duty, annual training duty, and attendance, 
        while in the active military service, at a school designated as 
        a service school by law or by the Secretary of the military 
        department concerned.
            ``(B) The term `Armed Forces' means the Army, Navy, Air 
        Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and includes members of 
        the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the 
        Public Health Service when assigned to and serving with the 
        Armed Forces.
            ``(C) The term `eligible member of the Armed Forces' means 
        an individual who meets the requirements under paragraph (2).
            ``(D) The term `eligible mortgage' means a mortgage that 
        meets the requirements under paragraph (3). The term `mortgage' 
        means all first mortgages and includes mortgages not insured 
        under this title.
            ``(E) The term `income' means income from all sources and 
        members of the household, including any benefits and annuities, 
        as determined in accordance with criteria prescribed by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(8) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this subsection.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Assistance may be provided under the 
amendments made by subsection (a) only with respect to eligible members 
of the Armed Forces seriously injured on or after September 11, 2001.

                          TITLE IV--EDUCATION

SEC. 401. REPEAL OF $1,200 REDUCTION IN BASIC PAY REQUIRED FOR 
              PARTICIPATION IN MONTGOMERY GI BILL EDUCATIONAL 
              ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    Any reduction in the basic pay of an individual referred to in 
section 3011(b) of title 38, United States Code, by reason of such 
section 3011(b), or of any individual referred to in section 3012(c) of 
such title by reason of such section 3012(c), as of the date of the 
enactment of this Act shall cease, commencing with the first month 
beginning after such date, and any obligation of such individual under 
such section 3011(b) or 3012(c), as the case may be, as of the day 
before such date shall be considered to be fully satisfied as of such 
date.
                                 <all>