115 HR 4575 IH: Veteran Peer Specialist Act of 2021
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-07-20
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I
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4575
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 20, 2021
Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Allred, and Mr. Mann) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To amend the VA MISSION Act of 2018, to expand the peer specialist support program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to all medical centers of the Department, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veteran Peer Specialist Act of 2021”.
2.

Expansion of peer specialist support program of Department of Veterans Affairs
(a)

Expansion
Section 506 of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–182; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsections (d) through (f) as subsections (e) through (g);
(2)
in the heading of subsection (b), by striking “Timeframe” and inserting “Initial timeframe”;
(3)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in the heading, by striking “Selection” and inserting “Initial selection”; and
(B)
in paragraph (1), by striking “The Secretary shall” and inserting “In establishing the program at initial locations, the Secretary shall”;
(4)
by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:
“(d)

Timeframe for expansion of program; selection of additional locations
(1)

Timeframe for expansion
The Secretary shall make permanent and expand the program to additional medical centers of the Department as follows:
(A)
As of the date of the enactment of the Veteran Peer Specialist Act of 2021, at each medical center participating in the program on the day before such date of enactment.
(B)
During the five-year period following such date of enactment, at an additional 25 medical centers per year until the program is carried out at each medical center of the Department.
(2)

Selection of additional locations
In selecting medical centers for the expansion of the program under paragraph (1)(B), until such time as each medical center of the Department is participating in the program by establishing not fewer than two peer specialists at the medical center, the Secretary shall prioritize medical centers in the following areas:
(A)
Rural areas and other areas that are underserved by the Department.
(B)
Areas that are not in close proximity to an active duty military installation.
(C)
Areas representing different geographic locations, such as census tracts established by the Bureau of the Census.”;
(5)
in subsection (e), as redesignated by paragraph (1)—
(A)
in the heading, by striking “Gender-specific services” and inserting “Considerations for hiring peer specialists”;
(B)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “location selected under subsection (c)” and inserting “medical center”; and
(C)
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following new paragraphs:
“(2)
female peer specialists are hired and made available to support female veterans who are treated at each medical center; and
(3)
to the extent practical, peer specialists are hired in demographic percentages that reflect the racial and ethnic demographic percentages of the overall veterans population.”; and
(6)
by amending subsection (g), as redesignated by paragraph (1), to read as follows:
“(g)

Reports
(1)

Periodic reports
(A)

In general
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Veteran Peer Specialist Act of 2021, and annually thereafter for five years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the program, including the expansion of the program under subsection (d)(1).
(B)

Elements
Each report under subparagraph (A) shall include, with respect to the one-year period preceding the submission of the report, the following:
(i)
The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the program.
(ii)
An assessment of the benefits of the program to veterans and family members of veterans.
(iii)
An assessment of the effectiveness of peer specialists in engaging under subsection (f) with health care providers in the community and veterans served by such providers.
(iv)
The name and location of each medical center where new peer specialists were hired.
(v)
The number of new peer specialists hired at each medical center pursuant to this section and the total number of peer specialists within the Department hired pursuant to this section.
(vi)
An assessment of any barriers confronting the recruitment, training, or retention of peer specialists.
(2)

Final report
Not later than one year after the Secretary determines that the program is being carried out at each medical center of the Department, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report notifying such committees of the determination.”.
(b)

Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the amendments made by this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.