[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3885 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3885
To expand medical, employment, and other benefits for individuals
serving as family caregivers for certain veterans, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 6, 2024
Ms. Sinema (for herself and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To expand medical, employment, and other benefits for individuals
serving as family caregivers for certain veterans, 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 ``Veteran Caregiver Reeducation,
Reemployment, and Retirement Act''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF MEDICAL CARE COVERAGE FOR CAREGIVERS
DESIGNATED AS PRIMARY PROVIDERS OF PERSONAL CARE SERVICES
FOR VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Subsection (a)(4) of section 1781 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting before the comma at the end
the following: ``, including during the 180-day period following the
removal of such designation unless the individual was dismissed from
the program under section 1720G(a) of this title for fraud, abuse, or
mistreatment''.
(b) Limitation on Eligibility for Caregivers Entitled to
Medicare.--Subsection (d) of such section is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new
paragraph:
``(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, an
individual is not eligible for medical care under this section during
the 180-day period specified under subsection (a)(4) if the individual
is entitled to hospital insurance benefits under part A of the medicare
program during such period.''.
SEC. 3. EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER BENEFITS FOR CAREGIVERS DESIGNATED AS
PRIMARY PROVIDERS OF PERSONAL CARE SERVICES FOR VETERANS.
(a) Employment Assistance.--Section 1720G of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(e) Employment Assistance.--(1) The Secretary shall provide to an
individual designated as a primary provider of personal care services
under subsection (a)(7)(A) employment assistance as follows:
``(A) Reimbursement of fees associated with certifications
or relicensure necessary for such employment.
``(B) For purposes of gaining credit for continuing
professional education requirements, access to training modules
of the Department at no cost.
``(C) In consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Labor, access to employment assistance under--
``(i) the Military OneSource program of the
Department of Defense;
``(ii) the Veterans' Employment and Training
Service of the Department of Labor; and
``(iii) such programs of the Department of Veterans
Affairs as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines
appropriate.
``(2) An individual described in paragraph (1) shall have access to
assistance described in such paragraph--
``(A) while participating in the program established under
subsection (a)(1); and
``(B) during the 180-day period following the date on which
the individual is no longer participating in such program
unless the individual was dismissed from the program for fraud,
abuse, or mistreatment.
``(3) The maximum lifetime amount that may be reimbursed for an
individual under paragraph (1)(A) is $1,000.''.
(b) Expansion of Available Services.--Subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii) of
such section is amended--
(1) in subclause (V), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) in subclause (VI)--
(A) in the matter preceding item (aa), by inserting
``or agreements'' after ``contracts'';
(B) in item (aa), by inserting ``, including
retirement planning services,'' after ``services''; and
(C) in item (bb), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subclause:
``(VI) during the 180-day period following the date
on which the family caregiver is no longer
participating in the program required by paragraph (1),
unless the family caregiver was dismissed from the
program for fraud, abuse, or mistreatment, such
instruction, preparation, training, and support as the
Secretary considers appropriate to assist the family
caregiver in transitioning away from caregiving.''.
(c) Assistance Returning to Workforce.--Subclause (VI) of such
subsection is further amended--
(1) in item (aa), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) in item (bb), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new item:
``(cc) assistance returning to the
workforce upon discharge or dismissal from the
program required by paragraph (1) unless the
family caregiver was dismissed from the program
for fraud, abuse, or mistreatment.''.
(d) Bereavement Counseling and Support.--Subsection
(a)(3)(A)(i)(III) of such section is amended by inserting before the
semicolon the following: ``, including bereavement counseling and
support following the death of the eligible veteran''.
(e) Study on Provision of Returnship Program.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
in partnership with the Secretary of Labor, shall complete a
study on the feasibility and advisability of conducting a
returnship program for individuals who are or were designated
as a primary provider of personal care services under section
1720G(a)(7)(A) of title 38, United States Code, to assist such
individuals in returning to the workforce.
(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after completion of
the study under paragraph (1), 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 study.
(f) Study on Incorporating Former Caregivers Into Workforce of
Department of Veterans Affairs.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall complete a study on barriers and incentives to hiring
individuals who were designated as a primary provider of
personal care services under section 1720G(a)(7)(A) of title
38, United States Code, at facilities of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to address staffing needs.
(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after completion of
the study under paragraph (1), 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 study, which shall include--
(A) a plan for increasing employment opportunities
at facilities of the Department for individuals who
were designated as a primary provider of personal care
services under section 1720G(a)(7)(A) of title 38,
United States Code; and
(B) such recommendations for legislative or
administrative action as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
SEC. 4. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON EFFORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS IN SUPPORTING FAMILY CAREGIVERS TRANSITIONING
AWAY FROM CAREGIVING.
Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to
Congress a report assessing the efforts of the Department of Veterans
Affairs in supporting individuals serving as family caregivers under
section 1720G(a) of title 38, United States Code, in transitioning away
from caregiving, either by assisting those individuals with retirement
planning or returning to work.
SEC. 5. REPORT ON FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF ESTABLISHING A
RETIREMENT PLAN OR RETIREMENT SAVINGS FOR FAMILY
CAREGIVERS OF CERTAIN VETERANS.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the
Secretary of the Treasury and the heads of such other relevant entities
as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines necessary, shall submit
to Congress a report on the feasibility and advisability of, for
individuals serving as family caregivers under section 1720G(a) of
title 38, United States Code--
(1) establishing an individual retirement plan (as defined
in section 7701(a)(37) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) or
similar retirement plan; or
(2) permitting such individuals to join an already
established pathway to retirement savings.
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