[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.

                          ____________________