[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 144 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S4519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SOLID START ACT OF 2021
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 478, S. 1198.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The bill clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 1198) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve and expand the Solid Start program of the Department
of Veterans Affairs, 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 ``Solid Start Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) In 2021, veterans continue to die by suicide at higher
rates than civilians. Many of those veterans have no ties to
the Department of Veterans Affairs, limiting the ability of
the Department to help in times of crisis.
(2) The first year after separating from the military is a
critical time in the transition to civilian life for a member
of the Armed Forces. Many changes occur during that
transition, from career and location changes to shifts in
financial circumstances and health care coverage.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States must
strive to better serve members of the Armed Forces and
veterans who are transitioning to civilian life by--
(1) providing up-to-date information and access to
resources that such members of the Armed Forces and veterans
may not be aware of;
(2) supporting the critical time of transition by ensuring
that mental health needs are met in a timely manner; and
(3) assisting members of the Armed Forces and veterans in
accessing newly available services.
SEC. 4. SOLID START PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subchapter:
``Subchapter II--Other Outreach Programs and Activities
``Sec. 6320. Solid Start program
``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
``(1) to build the capacity of the Department to
efficiently and effectively respond to the queries and needs
of veterans who have recently separated from the Armed
Forces; and
``(2) to systemically integrate and coordinate efforts to
assist veterans, including efforts--
``(A) to proactively reach out to newly separated veterans
to inform them of their eligibility for programs of and
benefits provided by the Department; and
``(B) to connect veterans in crisis to resources that
address their immediate needs.
``(b) Activities of the Solid Start Program.--(1) The
Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense,
shall carry out the Solid Start program of the Department
by--
``(A) collecting up-to-date contact information during
transition classes or separation counseling for all members
of the Armed Forces who are separating from the Armed Forces,
while explaining the existence and purpose of the Solid Start
program;
``(B) calling each veteran, regardless of separation type
or characterization of service, three times within the first
year after separation of the veteran from the Armed Forces;
``(C) providing information about the Solid Start program
on the website of the Department and in materials of the
Department, especially transition booklets and other
resources;
``(D) ensuring calls are truly tailored to the needs of
each veteran's unique situation by conducting quality
assurance tests;
``(E) prioritizing outreach to veterans who have accessed
mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed
Forces;
``(F) providing women veterans with information that is
tailored to their specific health care and benefit needs;
``(G) as feasible, providing information on access to State
and local resources, including Vet Centers and veterans
service organizations; and
``(H) gathering and analyzing data assessing the
effectiveness of the Solid Start program.
``(2) The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of
Defense, may carry out the Solid Start program by--
``(A) encouraging members of the Armed Forces who are
transitioning to civilian life to authorize alternate points
of contact who can be reached should the member be
unavailable during the first year following the separation of
the member from the Armed Forces; and
``(B) following up missed phone calls with tailored
mailings to ensure the veteran still receives similar
information.
``(3) In this subsection:
``(A) The term `Vet Center' has the meaning given that term
in section 1712A(h) of this title.
``(B) The term `veterans service organization' means an
organization recognized by the Secretary for the
representation of veterans under section 5902 of this title.
``(c) Obligations of Amounts.--Subject to the availability
of appropriations, the Secretary may not, in a fiscal year,
obligate an amount to carry out the Solid Start program that
is less than the total amount obligated in the previous
fiscal year to carry out the program, unless the Secretary
determines that increased efficiencies of the program warrant
the obligation of a lesser amount.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 63 of such title, as
amended by subsection (a), is further amended--
(1) by inserting before section 6301 the following:
``Subchapter I--Outreach Services Program'';
and
(2) in sections 6301, 6303, 6304, 6305, 6306, and 6307, by
striking ``this chapter'' each place it appears and inserting
``this subchapter''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents at the
beginning of chapter 63 of such title is amended--
(1) by inserting before the item relating to section 6301
the following new item:
``subchapter i--outreach services program'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new items:
``subchapter ii--other outreach programs and activities
``6320. Solid Start program.''.
Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported
substitute be agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was
agreed to.
Mr. SCHUMER. I ask that the bill, as amended, be considered read a
third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading
and was read the third time.
Mr. SCHUMER. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the bill having
been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass, as
amended?
The bill (S. 1198), as amended, was passed.
Mr. SCHUMER. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________