[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 785 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 785

   To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot 
    program to provide outreach and training to certain college and 
   university mental health centers relating to the mental health of 
veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 28, 2009

  Ms. Tsongas (for herself and Mr. Michaud) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot 
    program to provide outreach and training to certain college and 
   university mental health centers relating to the mental health of 
veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and 
                          for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. PILOT PROGRAM ON OUTREACH AND TRAINING RELATING TO MENTAL 
              HEALTH OF VETERANS OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND 
              OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

    (a) Pilot Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
out a four-year pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide 
covered services to covered mental health centers.
    (b) Definitions.--For the purposes of this Act:
            (1) The term ``covered mental health center'' means a 
        counseling center, student health or wellness center, or 
        student services center at a college or university with a large 
        enrollment of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation 
        Enduring Freedom, as determined by the Secretary.
            (2) The term ``covered services'' means outreach and 
        training services related to the mental health of veterans of 
        Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Such 
        services shall include--
                    (A) training for clinicians on treatment for mental 
                illnesses commonly experienced by such veterans;
                    (B) training on providing assistance to such 
                veterans in accessing mental health care and services 
                available through the Department of Veterans Affairs;
                    (C) training for administrative staff who interact 
                with such veterans relating to crisis management and 
                other relevant skills;
                    (D) training of peer counselors on conducting 
                support groups for such veterans; and
                    (E) any other service the Secretary determines is 
                necessary or appropriate.
    (c) Reports to Congress.--Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act and not later than 30 days after the last 
day of the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report on the pilot program. Each such report 
shall include--
            (1) the names of the colleges and universities at which the 
        Secretary is carrying out the pilot program;
            (2) the number of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and 
        Operation Enduring Freedom enrolled at each such college or 
        university;
            (3) a description of the services carried out by the 
        Secretary under the pilot program;
            (4) an assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot 
        program; and
            (5) the recommendations of the Secretary with respect to 
        the extension or expansion of the pilot program.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2010 through 2013.
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