[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1558 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1558

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of 
             outreach for veterans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 27, 2013

 Mr. Begich (for himself and Mr. Brown) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of 
             outreach for veterans, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 
2013''.

SEC. 2. PROGRAM OF OUTREACH TO VETERANS.

    (a) Program Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish a program of outreach to veterans for the purpose described 
in subsection (b).
    (b) Purpose.--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) Duration.--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 agencies.--In 
        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 
        commissions.--In 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 commissions.--For 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 Assistance.--In 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) Report on Outreach Activities of Department of Veterans 
Affairs.--
            (1) In general.--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) Elements.--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).
    (g) Veterans Service Organization Defined.--In 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.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the program required by subsection (a)--
            (1) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2014; and
            (2) $35,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2015 through 
        2019.
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