I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3522 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 31, 2009 Mr. Space (for himself and Mr. Ryan of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide grants and assistance to States to conduct outreach to veterans regarding hardship and priority under the Department of Veterans Affairs patient enrollment system.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Hardship Outreach for Priority Eights (HOPE) Act.

2.

Outreach to veterans regarding hardship and priority under Department of Veterans Affairs patient enrollment system

(a)

Assistance provided

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide grants and other assistance to States for the purpose of providing outreach to veterans who may be able to apply for a change in priority under the patient enrollment system maintained by the Secretary under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, due to hardship. (b)

Priority for certain States

In providing grants and assistance under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to States with— (1)veteran populations of at least 500,000; and (2)unemployment rates that exceed the national average unemployment rate. (c)

Limitation

For any fiscal year, not more than 20 percent of the amount of the funds made available for the provision of grants and assistance under subsection (a) shall be provided to any one State. (d)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.