[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4724 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4724

  To improve and expand the Solid Start program of the Department of 
               Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 24, 2020

 Ms. Hassan (for herself, Mr. Cramer, and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                           Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To improve and expand the Solid Start program of the Department of 
               Veterans Affairs, 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 ``Solid Start Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) In 2020, veterans continue to die by suicide at higher 
        rates than civilians. Many of those veterans have no ties to 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs, limiting the ability of the 
        Department to help in times of crisis.
            (2) The first year after separating from the military is a 
        critical time in the transition to civilian life for a member 
        of the Armed Forces. Many changes occur during that transition, 
        from career and location changes to shifts in financial 
        circumstances and health care coverage.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the United States must strive to 
better serve members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are 
transitioning to civilian life by--
            (1) providing up-to-date information and access to 
        resources that such members of the Armed Forces may not be 
        aware of;
            (2) supporting the critical time of transition by ensuring 
        that mental health needs are met in a timely manner; and
            (3) assisting members of the Armed Forces and veterans in 
        accessing newly available services.

SEC. 4. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to build the capacity of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs to efficiently and effectively respond to the queries 
        and needs of veterans who have recently separated from the 
        Armed Forces; and
            (2) to systemically integrate and coordinate efforts to 
        assist veterans, including efforts--
                    (A) to proactively reach out to newly separated 
                veterans to inform them of their eligibility for 
                programs of and benefits provided by the Department; 
                and
                    (B) to connect veterans in crisis to resources that 
                address their immediate needs.

SEC. 5. ACTIVITIES OF THE SOLID START PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Required Activities.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall carry out the Solid 
Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs by--
            (1) collecting up-to-date contact information during 
        transition classes or separation counseling for all members of 
        the Armed Forces who are separating from the Armed Forces, 
        while explaining the existence and purpose of the Solid Start 
        program;
            (2) calling each veteran, regardless of separation type or 
        characterization of service, not less than twice within the 
        first year after separation from the Armed Forces;
            (3) providing information about the Solid Start program on 
        the website of the Department and in materials of the 
        Department, especially transition booklets and other resources;
            (4) ensuring calls are truly tailored to the needs of each 
        veteran's unique situation by conducting quality assurance 
        tests; and
            (5) prioritizing outreach to veterans who have accessed 
        mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed 
        Forces.
    (b) Authorized Activities.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Defense, may carry out the Solid 
Start program by--
            (1) encouraging members of the Armed Forces who are 
        transitioning to civilian life to authorize alternate points of 
        contact who can be reached should the member be unavailable 
        during the first year following the separation of the member 
        from the Armed Forces;
            (2) following up missed phone calls with tailored mailings 
        to ensure the veteran still receives similar information; and
            (3) striving to reach out to veterans who separated prior 
        to the initiation of the Solid Start program to provide similar 
        services to those veterans, when feasible.

SEC. 6. ASSESSMENT BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE OF SOLID START 
              PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Assessment.--
            (1) In general.--Beginning on the date that is one year 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
        General of the United States shall carry out an assessment of 
        the Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Elements.--The assessment required by paragraph (1) 
        shall analyze the following:
                    (A) How many veterans have been contacted through 
                the Solid Start program since the establishment of the 
                program as compared to how many veterans have not been 
                reached.
                    (B) Whether feedback on the Solid Start program 
                indicates that the program is working.
                    (C) Whether the Solid Start program is meeting the 
                purposes described in section 4.
                    (D) Improvements that could be made to the Solid 
                Start program.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date described in 
subsection (a)(1), the Comptroller General shall--
            (1) complete the assessment required by such subsection; 
        and
            (2) submit a report on the findings of the assessment to--
                    (A) the Committee on Veterans Affairs' and the 
                Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Veterans Affairs' and the 
                Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
                Representatives.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act the 
greater of--
            (1) such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year to 
        carry out this Act; or
            (2) the amount expended by the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs during fiscal year 2020 to carry out activities of the 
        Solid Start program.
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