[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 120 (Tuesday, June 30, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4080-S4081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SERGEANT DANIEL SOMERS VETERANS NETWORK OF SUPPORT ACT OF 2019

  Mr. PERDUE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 414, S. 2864.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2864) to require the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs to carry out a pilot program on information sharing 
     between the Department of Veterans Affairs and designated 
     relatives and friends of veterans regarding the assistance 
     and benefits available to the veterans, and for other 
     purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, with 
an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Sergeant Daniel Somers 
     Veterans Network of Support Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DESIGNATED 
                   RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF VETERANS REGARDING THE 
                   ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO THE 
                   VETERANS.

       (a) Pilot Program Required.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall commence carrying out a pilot program--
       (A) to encourage members of the Armed Forces who are 
     transitioning from service in the Armed Forces to civilian 
     life, before separating from such service, to designate up to 
     10 persons to whom information regarding the assistance and 
     benefits available to the veterans under laws administered by 
     the Secretary shall be disseminated using the contact 
     information obtained under paragraph (7); and
       (B) provides such persons, within 30 days after the date on 
     which such persons are designated under subparagraph (A), the 
     option to elect to receive such information.
       (2) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
     program during a period beginning on the date of the 
     commencement of the pilot program that is not less than two 
     years.
       (3) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall disseminate 
     information described in paragraph (1)(A) under the pilot 
     program no less frequently than quarterly.

[[Page S4081]]

       (4) Types of information.--The types of information to be 
     disseminated under the pilot program to persons who elect to 
     receive such information shall include information regarding 
     the following:
       (A) Services and benefits offered to veterans and their 
     family members by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (B) Challenges and stresses that might accompany 
     transitioning from service in the Armed Forces to civilian 
     life.
       (C) Services available to veterans and their family members 
     to cope with the experiences and challenges of service in the 
     Armed Forces and transition from such service to civilian 
     life.
       (D) Services available through community partner 
     organizations to support veterans and their family members.
       (E) Services available through Federal, State, and local 
     government agencies to support veterans and their family 
     members.
       (F) The environmental health registry program, health and 
     wellness programs, and resources for preventing and managing 
     diseases and illnesses.
       (G) A toll-free telephone number through which such persons 
     who elect to receive information under the pilot program may 
     request information regarding the program.
       (H) Such other matters as the Secretary, in consultation 
     with members of the Armed Forces and such persons who elect 
     to receive information under the pilot program, determines to 
     be appropriate.
       (5) Privacy of information.--In carrying out the pilot 
     program, the Secretary may not disseminate information under 
     paragraph (4) in violation of laws and regulations pertaining 
     to the privacy of members of the Armed Forces, including 
     requirements pursuant to--
       (A) section 552a of title 5, United States Code; and
       (B) the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
     of 1996 (Public Law 104-191).
       (6) Notice and modifications.--In carrying out the pilot 
     program, the Secretary shall, with respect to a veteran--
       (A) ensure that such veteran is notified of the ability to 
     modify designations made by such veteran under paragraph 
     (1)(A); and
       (B) upon the request of a veteran, authorize such veteran 
     to modify such designations at any time.
       (7) Contact information.--In making a designation under the 
     pilot program, a veteran shall provide necessary contact 
     information, specifically including an email address, to 
     facilitate the dissemination of information regarding the 
     assistance and benefits available to the veteran under laws 
     administered by the Secretary.
       (8) Opt-in and opt-out of pilot program.--
       (A) Opt-in by members.--A veteran may participate in the 
     pilot program only if the veteran voluntarily elects to 
     participate in the program. A veteran seeking to make such an 
     election shall make such election in a manner, and by 
     including such information, as the Secretary shall specify 
     for purposes of the pilot program.
       (B) Opt-in by designated recipients.--A person designated 
     pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) may receive information under 
     the pilot program only if the person makes the election 
     described in paragraph (1)(B).
       (C) Opt-out.--In carrying out the pilot program, the 
     Secretary shall, with respect to a person who has elected to 
     receive information under such pilot program, cease 
     disseminating such information to that person upon request of 
     such person.
       (b) Survey and Report on Pilot Program.--
       (1) Survey.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the commencement of the pilot program and not less frequently 
     than once each year thereafter for the duration of the pilot 
     program, the Secretary shall administer a survey to persons 
     who elected to receive information under the pilot program 
     for the purpose of receiving feedback regarding the quality 
     of information disseminated under this section.
       (B) Elements.--Each survey conducted under subparagraph (A) 
     shall include solicitation of the following:
       (i) Feedback on the following:

       (I) The nature of information disseminated under the pilot 
     program.
       (II) Satisfaction with the pilot program.
       (III) The utility of the pilot program.
       (IV) Overall pilot program successes and challenges.

       (ii) Recommendations for improving the pilot program.
       (iii) Reasons for opting in or out of the pilot program.
       (iv) Such other feedback or matters as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate.
       (2) Report.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than three years after the date 
     on which the pilot program commences, 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 final report on the pilot program.
       (B) Contents.--The report submitted under subparagraph (A) 
     shall include the following:
       (i) The results of the survey administered under paragraph 
     (1).
       (ii) The number of participants enrolled in the pilot 
     program who are veterans.
       (iii) The number of persons designated under subsection 
     (a)(1)(A).
       (iv) The number of such persons who opted in or out of the 
     pilot program under subsection (a)(8).
       (v) The average period such persons remained in the pilot 
     program.
       (vi) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of 
     making the pilot program permanent.
       (vii) Identification of legislative or administrative 
     action that may be necessary if the pilot program is made 
     permanent.
       (viii) A plan to expand the pilot program if the pilot 
     program is made permanent.
       (ix) If the Secretary finds under clause (vi) that making 
     the pilot program permanent is not feasible or advisable, a 
     justification for such finding.

  Mr. PERDUE. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be 
considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
agreed to.
  The bill (S. 2864), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

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