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.