[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1198 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 478
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1198
To amend title 38, United States Code, 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
April 15, 2021
Ms. Hassan (for herself, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Sinema, Ms.
Collins, and Ms. Cortez Masto) introduced the following bill; which was
read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
August 4, 2022
Reported by Mr. Tester, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, 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,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Solid Start Act of
2021''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Congress finds the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In 2021, 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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> 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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) providing up-to-date information and access to
resources that such members of the Armed Forces and veterans
may not be aware of;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) supporting the critical time of transition by
ensuring that mental health needs are met in a timely manner;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) assisting members of the Armed Forces and
veterans in accessing newly available services.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. SOLID START PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subchapter:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Subchapter II--Other Outreach Programs and
Activities</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 6320. Solid Start program</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) to build the capacity of the Department to
efficiently and effectively respond to the queries and needs of
veterans who have recently separated from the Armed Forces;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) to systemically integrate and coordinate
efforts to assist veterans, including efforts--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) to connect veterans in crisis to
resources that address their immediate needs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(b) Activities of the Solid Start Program.--(1) The
Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall carry
out the Solid Start program of the Department by--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) 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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) calling each veteran, regardless of
separation type or characterization of service, three times
within the first year after separation of the veteran from the
Armed Forces;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) 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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(D) ensuring calls are truly tailored to the
needs of each veteran's unique situation by conducting quality
assurance tests;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(E) prioritizing outreach to veterans who have
accessed mental health resources prior to separation from the
Armed Forces;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(F) providing women veterans with information
that is tailored to their specific health care and benefit
needs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(G) as feasible, providing information on access
to State and local resources, including Vet Centers and
veterans service organizations; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(H) gathering and analyzing data assessing the
effectiveness of the Solid Start program.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of
Defense, may carry out the Solid Start program by--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) 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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) following up missed phone calls with
tailored mailings to ensure the veteran still receives similar
information; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) striving to reach out to veterans who
separated prior to the initiation of the Solid Start program to
provide similar services to those veterans, as
feasible.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) In this subsection:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) The term `Vet Center' has the meaning given
that term in section 1712A(h) of this title.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) The term `veterans service organization'
means an organization recognized by the Secretary for the
representation of veterans under section 5902 of this
title.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(c) Obligations of Amounts.--Subject to the availability
of appropriations, the Secretary may not, in a fiscal year, obligate an
amount to carry out the Solid Start program that is less than the total
amount obligated in the previous fiscal year to carry out the program,
unless the Secretary determines that increased efficiencies of the
program warrant the obligation of a lesser amount.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 63 of such title, as
amended by subsection (a), is further amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by inserting before section 6301 the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Subchapter I--Outreach Services Program'';</DELETED>
<DELETED>and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in sections 6301, 6303, 6304, 6305, 6306, and
6307, by striking ``this chapter'' each place it appears and
inserting ``this subchapter''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents at the
beginning of chapter 63 of such title is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by inserting before the item relating to
section 6301 the following new item:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``subchapter i--outreach services program'';
<DELETED>and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by adding at the end the following new
items:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``subchapter ii--other outreach programs and activities
<DELETED>``6320. Solid Start program.''.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Solid Start Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) In 2021, 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 and veterans
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. SOLID START PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:
``Subchapter II--Other Outreach Programs and Activities
``Sec. 6320. Solid Start program
``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
``(1) to build the capacity of the Department 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.
``(b) Activities of the Solid Start Program.--(1) The Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall carry out the Solid
Start program of the Department by--
``(A) 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;
``(B) calling each veteran, regardless of separation type
or characterization of service, three times within the first
year after separation of the veteran from the Armed Forces;
``(C) 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;
``(D) ensuring calls are truly tailored to the needs of
each veteran's unique situation by conducting quality assurance
tests;
``(E) prioritizing outreach to veterans who have accessed
mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed
Forces;
``(F) providing women veterans with information that is
tailored to their specific health care and benefit needs;
``(G) as feasible, providing information on access to State
and local resources, including Vet Centers and veterans service
organizations; and
``(H) gathering and analyzing data assessing the
effectiveness of the Solid Start program.
``(2) The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense,
may carry out the Solid Start program by--
``(A) 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; and
``(B) following up missed phone calls with tailored
mailings to ensure the veteran still receives similar
information.
``(3) In this subsection:
``(A) The term `Vet Center' has the meaning given that term
in section 1712A(h) of this title.
``(B) The term `veterans service organization' means an
organization recognized by the Secretary for the representation
of veterans under section 5902 of this title.
``(c) Obligations of Amounts.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary may not, in a fiscal year, obligate an
amount to carry out the Solid Start program that is less than the total
amount obligated in the previous fiscal year to carry out the program,
unless the Secretary determines that increased efficiencies of the
program warrant the obligation of a lesser amount.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 63 of such title, as amended by
subsection (a), is further amended--
(1) by inserting before section 6301 the following:
``Subchapter I--Outreach Services Program'';
and
(2) in sections 6301, 6303, 6304, 6305, 6306, and 6307, by
striking ``this chapter'' each place it appears and inserting
``this subchapter''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents at the beginning of
chapter 63 of such title is amended--
(1) by inserting before the item relating to section 6301
the following new item:
``subchapter i--outreach services program'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new items:
``subchapter ii--other outreach programs and activities
``6320. Solid Start program.''.
Calendar No. 478
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1198
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve and expand the Solid
Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
August 4, 2022
Reported with an amendment