[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4276 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4276

To improve services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for 
               veteran families, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                 May 19 (legislative day, May 17), 2022

  Mrs. Murray introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To improve services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for 
               veteran families, 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 ``Helping Heroes Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Disabled veteran.--The term ``disabled veteran'' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 4211 of title 38, United 
        States Code.
            (3) Educational service agency; local educational agency; 
        other staff; school leader; specialized instructional support 
        personnel.--The terms ``educational service agency'', ``local 
        educational agency'', ``other staff'', ``school leader'', and 
        ``specialized instructional support personnel'' have the 
        meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (4) Eligible child.--The term ``eligible child'', with 
        respect to an eligible veteran, means an individual who--
                    (A) is a ward, child (including stepchild), 
                grandchild, or sibling (including stepsibling or 
                halfsibling) of the eligible veteran; and
                    (B) is less than 18 years of age.
            (5) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran'' means 
        a disabled veteran who has a service-connected disability rated 
        at 70 percent or more.
            (6) Family coordinator.--The term ``Family Coordinator'' 
        means an individual placed at a medical center of the 
        Department pursuant to section 3.
            (7) Family support program.--The term ``Family Support 
        Program'' means the program established under section 4.
            (8) Non-department provider.--The term ``non-Department 
        provider'' means a public or non-profit entity that is not an 
        entity of the Department.
            (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Veterans Affairs.
            (10) Supportive services.--The term ``supportive services'' 
        means services that address the social, emotional, and mental 
        health, career-readiness, and other needs of eligible children, 
        including--
                    (A) wellness services, including mental, emotional, 
                behavioral, and physical health and nutritional 
                counseling and assistance;
                    (B) peer-support programs for children;
                    (C) assistance completing college admission and 
                financial aid applications, including the Free 
                Application for Federal Student Aid described in 
                section 483(a) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                1090), and accessing veterans' education benefits as 
                defined under section 480(c)(2) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
                1087vv) that eligible children may be eligible to 
                receive;
                    (D) assistance with accessing workforce development 
                programs, including programs providing the activities 
                authorized under section 129 of the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164), and 
                programs of vocational rehabilitation services, 
                including programs authorized under title I of the 
                Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 720 et seq.);
                    (E) sports and recreation;
                    (F) after-school care and summer learning 
                opportunities;
                    (G) dependent care, including home and community-
                based services;
                    (H) other resources for low-income families;
                    (I) assistance transitioning from active duty in 
                the Armed Forces to veteran status; and
                    (J) any other services or activities the Secretary 
                considers appropriate to support the needs of eligible 
                children.
            (11) Veteran-connected student.--The term ``veteran-
        connected student'' means a student whose parent or guardian 
        previously served in the Armed Forces, a Reserve component of 
        the Armed Forces, or the National Guard.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR FAMILY COORDINATORS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than three years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) place at each medical center of the Department not 
        fewer than one Family Coordinator; and
            (2) ensure adequate staffing and resources at each such 
        medical center to ensure Family Coordinators are able to carry 
        out their duties.
    (b) Family Coordinators.--
            (1) Employment.--Each Family Coordinator placed at a 
        medical center of the Department under subsection (a) shall be 
        employed full-time by the Department as a Family Coordinator 
        and shall have no other duties in addition to the duties of a 
        Family Coordinator.
            (2) Qualifications.--To qualify to be a Family Coordinator 
        under subsection (a), an individual shall--
                    (A) be a social worker licensed in accordance with 
                the requirements of the State in which such individual 
                is employed; and
                    (B) have a graduate degree in social work or a 
                related field.
            (3) Duties.--Each Family Coordinator shall--
                    (A) assess the needs of the families of veterans 
                using evidence-based strategies;
                    (B) build positive relationships with such 
                families;
                    (C) refer veterans to local, State, and Federal 
                resources that support veterans and their families;
                    (D) develop and maintain a list of--
                            (i) supportive services offered by the 
                        medical center at which the Family Coordinator 
                        is placed; and
                            (ii) supportive services offered at reduced 
                        or no cost by non-Department providers located 
                        in the catchment area of such medical center; 
                        and
                    (E) develop and maintain on an internet website a 
                list of family resources that shall be made available 
                for all veterans in the catchment area of such medical 
                center who are enrolled in the patient enrollment 
                system of the Department established and operated under 
                section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to be 
known as the Family Support Program to provide and coordinate the 
provision of supportive services to eligible veterans and eligible 
children.
    (b) Implementation of Family Support Program.--To carry out the 
Family Support Program, the Secretary shall--
            (1) provide supportive services through medical centers of 
        the Department;
            (2) collaborate with relevant Federal agencies to provide 
        supportive services;
            (3) provide financial assistance to non-Department 
        providers pursuant to subsection (c); and
            (4) engage in any other activities the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    (c) Financial Assistance to Non-Department Providers.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into contracts and 
        award grants to provide financial assistance to eligible non-
        Department providers to participate in the Family Support 
        Program.
            (2) Eligibility.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and 
                make publicly available the criteria for a non-
                Department provider to be eligible for financial 
                assistance under this subsection.
                    (B) Criteria.--The criteria required by 
                subparagraph (A) shall include requirements for a non-
                Department provider--
                            (i) to provide a description of--
                                    (I) each supportive service 
                                proposed to be provided to eligible 
                                children; and
                                    (II) the demonstrated record of the 
                                non-Department provider in providing 
                                such supportive service;
                            (ii) to demonstrate the ability to serve 
                        families of veterans in a manner that is 
                        trauma-informed and culturally and 
                        linguistically appropriate; and
                            (iii) to agree to oversight by the 
                        Secretary regarding--
                                    (I) the use of financial assistance 
                                provided by the Department under this 
                                subsection; and
                                    (II) the quality of supportive 
                                services provided.
            (3) Notice.--The Secretary shall promptly provide to 
        eligible non-Department providers selected by the Secretary to 
        receive financial assistance under this subsection notice of 
        the award of such financial assistance to ensure such providers 
        have sufficient time to prepare to provide supportive services 
        under the Family Support Program.
            (4) Authorized activities.--Financial assistance provided 
        under this subsection shall be used to provide supportive 
        services.
            (5) Training to recipients of financial assistance.--For 
        each recipient of financial assistance under this subsection, 
        the Secretary shall provide training and technical assistance 
        regarding the planning, development, and provision of 
        supportive services under the Family Support Program.
    (d) Coordination With Other Department of Veterans Affairs 
Programs.--The Secretary shall share best practices with and facilitate 
referrals of eligible veterans and their families, as appropriate, from 
the Family Support Program to other programs of the Department, such as 
the program of support services for caregivers of veterans under 
section 1720G(b) of title 38, United States Code.
    (e) Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) Annual report.--Not later than one year after the date 
        of the commencement of the Family Support Program, and annually 
        thereafter, each non-Department provider in receipt of 
        financial assistance under the Family Support Program shall 
        submit to the Secretary a report describing the supportive 
        services carried out with such financial assistance during the 
        year covered by such report.
            (2) Report to congress.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
                commencement of the Family Support Program, the 
                Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
                Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' 
                Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the 
                progress of the Family Support Program.
                    (B) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) 
                shall include--
                            (i) the number of eligible veterans and 
                        eligible children who received supportive 
                        services under the Family Support Program;
                            (ii) the demographic data of eligible 
                        veterans and eligible family members, 
                        including--
                                    (I) the relationship to the 
                                eligible veteran;
                                    (II) age;
                                    (III) race;
                                    (IV) ethnicity;
                                    (V) gender identity;
                                    (VI) sexual orientation;
                                    (VII) disability; and
                                    (VIII) English proficiency and 
                                whether a language other than English 
                                is spoken at home;
                            (iii) a summary of the supportive services 
                        carried out under the Family Support Program 
                        and the costs to the Department of such 
                        supportive services; and
                            (iv) an assessment, measured by a survey of 
                        participants, of whether participation in the 
                        Family Support Program resulted in positive 
                        outcomes for eligible veterans and eligible 
                        children.

SEC. 5. VETERAN-CONNECTED STUDENT GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Authorization of Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
        Secretary of Education, shall award grants, on a competitive 
        basis, to local educational agencies in order to better meet 
        academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of 
        veteran-connected students.
            (2) Eligibility.--A local educational agency shall be 
        eligible for a grant under this section if such agency partners 
        with a nearby medical center of the Department that employs at 
        least one Family Coordinator.
            (3) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall be 
        for a period of not more than five years.
            (4) Diversity of projects.--In awarding grants under this 
        section, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent 
        practicable, grants are distributed among local educational 
        agencies that will serve geographically diverse areas, 
        including urban, suburban, and rural areas.
            (5) Priorities.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, 
        shall give priority to applications that are submitted by local 
        educational agencies that are in the highest quartile of local 
        educational agencies in a ranking of all qualified local 
        educational agencies in the State, ranked in descending order 
        by the number and percentage of children in each agency counted 
        under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)).
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--In order to receive a grant under 
        subsection (a), a local educational agency shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably 
        require.
            (2) Contents.--An application submitted by an agency under 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) a description of how the agency will identify 
                veteran-connected students such as through survey 
                instruments or data sharing agreements, in accordance 
                with applicable Federal privacy laws;
                    (B) a description of how the agency will 
                collaborate with a Family Coordinator to increase wrap 
                around supports provided to veteran-connected students 
                and families of veterans, including how services will 
                be provided by such agency or a medical center of the 
                Department, as appropriate;
                    (C) a description of how the agency will expand 
                access to evidence-based academic supports for veteran-
                connected students, such as tutoring or college and 
                career counseling, to improve the academic outcomes of 
                such students;
                    (D) an assurance that the agency will designate an 
                employee of a local educational agency to serve as a 
                liaison to families of veterans to coordinate with 
                Family Coordinators to meet the academic, social, 
                emotional, and mental health needs of veteran-connected 
                students, including through the Family Support Program; 
                and
                    (E) a description of a preliminary memorandum of 
                understanding signed between the agency and a 
                partnering medical center of the Department detailing 
                the financial, programmatic, and long-term commitments 
                of each party to meet the academic, social, emotional, 
                and mental health needs of veteran-connected students.
    (c) Uses of Funds.--A local educational agency receiving a grant 
under this section shall use such grant to carry out one or more of the 
following:
            (1) Support activities to address the academic, social, 
        emotional, and mental health needs of veteran-connected 
        students.
            (2) Provide assistance to veteran-connected students to 
        complete college admission applications and financial aid 
        applications, including the Free Application for Federal 
        Student Aid described in section 483(a) of the Higher Education 
        Act (20 U.S.C. 1090) and to access veterans' education benefits 
        as defined under section 480(c)(2) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
        1087vv(c)(2)) such individuals may be eligible to receive.
            (3) Improve mental health services and supports for 
        veteran-connected students, including meeting the needs of such 
        individuals who have experienced adverse childhood experiences 
        or related trauma.
            (4) Provide professional development for Family 
        Coordinators and for teachers, school leaders, specialized 
        instructional support personnel, liaisons to families of 
        veterans, and other staff employed by local educational 
        agencies on the unique challenges facing veteran-connected 
        students and families of veterans.
            (5) Conduct outreach and communicate with families of 
        veterans to improve the involvement of veterans who are 
        caregivers in the academic, social, emotional, and mental 
        health needs of their children.
            (6) Hire and retain a liaison to families of veterans to 
        provide supports to veteran-connected students and families of 
        veterans.
            (7) Coordinate with Family Coordinators and support the 
        provision of services through the Family Support Program.
    (d) Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) Local reporting.--Not later than one year after a local 
        educational agency receives a grant under this section, and 
        annually thereafter, such agency shall submit to the Secretary 
        a report containing such information as the Secretary may 
        require, including--
                    (A) the number and percentage of veteran-connected 
                students served by the agency, disaggregated by 
                demographic data;
                    (B) information required under paragraph (1)(C)(ii) 
                of section 1111(h) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(h)) and 
                corresponding requirements under paragraph (2) of that 
                section for all veteran-connected students served by 
                the agency; and
                    (C) a description of the academic, social, 
                emotional, and mental health services provided to 
                veteran-connected students, including whether such 
                services were provided by the agency or through the 
                Family Support Program.
            (2) Secretary reporting.--Not later than one year after 
        receiving a report described in paragraph (1), the Secretary, 
        in coordination with the Secretary of Education, shall--
                    (A) prepare and submit to the Committee on 
                Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Health, 
                Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
                Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a 
                report that summarizes the report submitted under 
                paragraph (1); and
                    (B) make the report submitted under paragraph (1) 
                publicly available on an internet website of the 
                Department.
    (e) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this 
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal or 
State funds available to carry out activities described in this 
section.
    (f) Disaggregation of Data.--Disaggregation of data required under 
this section shall not be required when the number of students 
described in subsection (d)(1)(A) is insufficient to yield 
statistically reliable information or the results would reveal 
personally identifiable information about an individual student.

SEC. 6. OUTREACH ON AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES.

    The Secretary shall conduct an outreach program to ensure veterans 
who are enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department 
established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, employees of the Department, and potential State, local, 
and Federal partners are informed of the Family Support Program and the 
availability of Family Coordinators.

SEC. 7. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE.

    Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall include information regarding supportive 
services available for members of the Armed Forces who are being 
separated from active duty and their families, including mental health 
and other services for children, in the transition assistance 
curriculum offered by the Department.

SEC. 8. SURVEY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five years, the 
Secretary shall conduct a survey of disabled veterans and their 
families to identify and better understand the needs of such disabled 
veterans and their families.
    (b) Content.--The survey required under subsection (a) shall 
include questions with respect to--
            (1) the types and quality of support disabled veterans 
        receive from the children of such disabled veterans; and
            (2) the unmet needs of such children.

SEC. 9. NONDISCRIMINATION.

    Programs or activities receiving funds under this Act may not 
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, 
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or age.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such funds 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
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