[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5152 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5152

 To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a program to ensure, 
    under certain conditions, that members of the Armed Forces are 
    automatically enrolled in benefits and services under the laws 
   administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for which such 
                         members are eligible.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 4, 2023

  Mr. Neguse introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a program to ensure, 
    under certain conditions, that members of the Armed Forces are 
    automatically enrolled in benefits and services under the laws 
   administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for which such 
                         members are eligible.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO ENROLL CERTAIN MEMBERS 
              OF THE ARMED FORCES IN BENEFITS AND SERVICES UNDER THE 
              LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a program to--
            (1) identify covered benefits, if any, for which each 
        covered member of an Armed Force is eligible to enroll;
            (2) notify each covered member of the relevant covered 
        benefits identified under subparagraph (A); and
            (3) expect as provided in subsection (e), ensure such 
        covered member is enrolled in such covered benefits.
    (b) Notification to Secretary of Veterans Affairs.--With respect to 
any covered member of an Armed Force the Secretary of Defense 
determines is eligible for enrollment in a covered benefit, such 
Secretary shall, not later than 90 days before the date on which such 
covered member is separated from service, submit to the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs a notification that includes--
            (1) the name, contact information, and military service 
        details of such covered member;
            (2) the anticipated date on which such covered member will 
        be separated from service; and
            (3) a description of any military occupational specialty 
        and training such covered member received during service.
    (c) Outreach Required.--Not later than 60 days after any date on 
which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives a notification under 
subsection (b), such Secretary shall contact the covered member of an 
Armed Force described in such notification and provide materials and 
resources relating to covered benefits.
    (d) Information Sharing.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination 
with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish procedures to--
            (1) share necessary information to facilitate the automatic 
        enrollment process under subsection (a); and
            (2) ensure the secure and confidential transfer of data 
        during any such sharing of necessary information.
    (e) Opt-Out Provision.--The decision to enroll in a covered benefit 
pursuant to subsection (a) shall be at the election of the relevant 
covered member of an Armed Force.
    (f) Working Group.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation 
        with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish a 
        working group to address potential barriers and challenges in 
        implementing the automatic enrollment process. The working 
        group shall consist of representatives from the Department of 
        Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other relevant 
        stakeholders as determined by such Secretaries.
            (2) Duties.--The working group shall be responsible for--
                    (A) identifying potential barriers to 
                implementation, such as legal, technological, or 
                administrative challenges; and
                    (B) developing strategies and recommendations to 
                overcome such potential barriers and ensure the 
                successful implementation of automatic enrollments.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on 
        which such Secretaries establish the working group under 
        paragraph (1), the head of such working group shall submit to 
        Congress a report that includes findings, recommendations, and 
        proposed timelines for implementation.
    (g) GAO Report on Notice of Automatic Enrollment.--Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report 
containing the results of a study to determine the best methods for the 
Secretary of Defense to provide notice under subsection (a)(2). In 
making such determination, the Comptroller General shall consider needs 
of veterans based on--
            (1) age;
            (2) residence in urban areas; and
            (3) residence in rural areas.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``covered benefit'' means a benefit or service 
        under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs.
            (2) The term ``covered member of an Armed Force'' means a 
        member of the Armed Forces participating in the Transition 
        Assistance Program of the Department of Defense under section 
        1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
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