[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5543 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5543
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of
Vet Centers in certain States based on population metrics, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 8, 2021
Ms. Sherrill (for herself, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Gonzalez of
Ohio, and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of
Vet Centers in certain States based on population metrics, 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 Census-Enabled National
Treatment Equitable Resource Supplement for Mental Health Act of 2021''
or the ``Vet CENTERS for Mental Health Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF VET CENTERS IN CERTAIN STATES BASED ON
POPULATION METRICS.
(a) Increase in Number.--If the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
determines that a State meets each requirement described in subsection
(c), (d), or (e), the Secretary shall ensure that the number of covered
Vet Centers located in the State is increased from the number of
covered Vet Centers that were located in the State on December 31,
2020, through the establishment of at least one additional covered Vet
Center within the State, as applicable.
(b) Existing Facilities.--In establishing an additional covered Vet
Center pursuant to a determination under subsection (a), the Secretary
may establish the covered Vet Center at a facility made available to
the Secretary by the head of a State, local government, or federally
recognized Indian tribe to carry out this section, regardless of
whether such facility is made available at a cost to the Secretary.
(c) Requirements.--The requirements described in this subsection
are, with respect to the 2020 calendar year, as follows:
(1) The total population of the State exceeded 6,000,000,
as determined by the United States Census Bureau.
(2) The average population density of the State exceeded
200 individuals per square mile, as determined by the United
States Census Bureau.
(3) The total veteran population in the State was greater
than 250,000 veterans, as estimated by the Secretary.
(4) The ratio of veteran population in the State to covered
Vet Centers located in the State exceeded 50,000 veterans per
one covered Vet Center, as determined by the Secretary
(regardless of the number of veterans that received services at
covered Vet Centers located in the State during such year).
(d) Alternative Requirements.--The requirements described in this
subsection are as follows:
(1) The State does not share a land border with another
State.
(2) The State is located at least 2,000 miles from the
contiguous United States.
(3) There is no covered Vet Center located in the State.
(e) Additional Alternative Requirements.--The requirements
described in this subsection are as follows:
(1) There are fewer than five covered Vet Centers located
in the State.
(2) The land area of the State exceeds 75,000 square miles.
(3) During the 2020 calendar year, the total population of
the State exceeded 5,000,000 individuals, as determined by the
United States Census Bureau.
(4) During the 2020 calendar year, the ratio of veteran
population in the State to covered Vet Centers located in the
State exceeded 75,000 veterans per one covered Vet Center, as
determined by the Secretary (regardless of the number of
veterans that received services at covered Vet Centers located
in the State during such year).
(f) Community-Based Outpatient Clinics.--The Secretary shall
establish a covered community-based outpatient clinic in each State
that the Secretary determines meets the following requirements:
(1) The State does not share a land border with another
State.
(2) The State is located at least 2,000 miles from the
contiguous United States.
(3) There is no covered community-based outpatient clinic
located in the State.
(g) Deadline.--The Secretary shall establish such additional
covered Vet Centers as may be required pursuant to a determination
under subsection (a), and such covered community-based outpatient
clinics as may be required pursuant to a determination under subsection
(f), by not later than two years after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(h) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) The term ``covered community-based outpatient clinic''
means a community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of
Veterans Affairs that is scheduled to be open for the provision
of community-based outpatient services for a minimum of eight
hours per day during five days of the week, except that the
community-based outpatient clinic may be open for less than
such minimum on a temporary basis as a result of a Federal
holiday, weather concern, safety concern, pandemic, or for such
other reasons as may be determined appropriate by the
Secretary.
(2) The term ``covered Vet Center''--
(A) means a Vet Center, as such term is defined in
section 1712A of title 38, United States Code, that is
scheduled to be open for the provision of services
under such section for a minimum of eight hours per day
during five days of the week, except that the Vet
Center may be open for less than such minimum on a
temporary basis as a result of a Federal holiday,
weather concern, safety concern, pandemic, or for such
other reasons as may be determined appropriate by the
Secretary; and
(B) does not include a Vet Center outstation.
(3) The term ``State'' has the meaning given such term in
section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
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