[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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