1.This Act may be cited as the
Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of
2011
.
2.Program of outreach to
veterans
(a)The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a
program of outreach to veterans for the purpose described in subsection
(b).
(b)The
purpose described in this subsection is to increase the following:
(1)The access and use
by veterans of Federal, State, and local programs providing compensation and
other benefits for service in the Armed Forces.
(2)Awareness of such
programs by veterans and their eligibility for such programs.
(c)The
program required by subsection (a) shall be carried out during the five-year
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d)Agreements To
carry out projects and activities
(1)Agreements with
Federal and State agenciesIn carrying out the program required
by subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into agreements
with other Federal and State agencies to carry out projects under the
jurisdiction of such agencies to further the purpose described in subsection
(b).
(2)Agreements with
applicable authorities and commissionsIn carrying out the
program required by subsection (a), the Secretary may enter into agreements
with applicable authorities and commissions to provide technical assistance,
award grants, enter into contracts, or otherwise provide amounts to persons or
entities for projects and activities that—
(A)increase outreach
to, awareness by, and use by veterans of programs described in subsection
(b)(1);
(B)provide incentives
for State and local governments and veterans service organizations to assist
veterans in utilizing facilities and resources available to veterans through
the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(C)provide incentives
for State and local governments and veterans service organizations to assist
veterans in utilizing resources available through government and veterans
service organizations for veterans;
(D)educate
communities and State and local governments about the employment rights of
veterans, including the employment and reemployment of members of the uniformed
services under chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code;
(E)provide technical
assistance to businesses owned by veterans; and
(F)encourage and
assist nonprofit organizations, businesses, and institutions of higher
education to carry out programs of assistance designed for veterans.
(3)Applicable
authorities and commissionsFor purposes of the program required
by subsection (a), the applicable authorities and commissions are the
following:
(A)The Appalachian
Regional Commission, established under section 14301(a) of title 40, United
States Code.
(B)The Delta Regional
Authority, established under section 382B(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa–1(a)).
(C)The Denali
Commission, established under section 303 of the Denali Commission Act of 1998
(42 U.S.C. 3121 note).
(D)The Northern Great
Plains Regional Authority, established under section 383B(a) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–1(a)).
(E)The Southeast
Crescent Regional Commission, the Southwest Border Regional Commission, and the
Northern Border Regional Commission established under section 15301(a) of title
40, United States Code.
(F)Entities described
in subparagraph (G) that serve Native Americans, Alaska Natives, or native
Hawaiians (as such terms are defined in section 3765 of title 38, United States
Code).
(G)Commissions and
development boards that are—
(i)not
chartered by the Federal Government;
(ii)selected by the
Secretary for purposes of the program; and
(iii)located in areas
that present extraordinary challenges to veterans, as determined by the
Secretary, including the following:
(I)Areas in severe
economic distress.
(II)Areas with
underdeveloped infrastructure.
(III)Areas with
unusual geographic characteristics, such as separation from the
mainland.
(e)Information,
advice, and technical assistanceIn carrying out the program
required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide, or
contract with public or private organizations to provide, information, advice,
and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations that provide services to
communities in order to increase the number of veterans receiving such
services.
(f)Coordination
with previously authorized pilot program on use of community-Based
organizations and local and State government entities for
outreachThe Secretary may carry out the program required by
subsection (a) in coordination with the pilot program required by section
506(a) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010
(Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1160; 38 U.S.C. 523 note).
(g)Report on
outreach activities of Department of Veterans Affairs
(1)Not later than four years after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a comprehensive report on
the activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding outreach to
veterans.
(2)The
report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A)A description of
all of the activities of the Department regarding outreach to veterans carried
out since the date of the enactment of this Act, including the activities of
the Department carried out under the program required by subsection (a).
(B)An assessment of
the effectiveness of the activities described in subparagraph (A).
(h)Veterans service
organization definedIn this section, the term veterans
service organization means any organization recognized by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of
title 38, United States Code.
(i)Authorization of
appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out the program required by subsection (a)—
(1)$7,000,000 for
fiscal year 2011; and
(2)$35,000,000 for
the period of fiscal years 2012 through 2016.