[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2508-S2509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 299. Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Mr. Boozman) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2226, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title VII, insert the 
     following:

                Subtitle ___--Helping Heroes Act of 2023

     SEC. ___. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Helping Heroes Act of 
     2023''.

     SEC. ___. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (2) Disabled veteran.--The term ``disabled veteran'' has 
     the meaning given that term in section 4211 of title 38, 
     United States Code.
       (3) Eligible child.--The term ``eligible child'', with 
     respect to an eligible veteran, means an individual who--
       (A) is a ward, child (including stepchild), grandchild, or 
     sibling (including stepsibling or halfsibling) of the 
     eligible veteran; and
       (B) is less than 18 years of age.
       (4) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran'' means 
     a disabled veteran who has a service-connected disability 
     rated at 70 percent or more.
       (5) Family coordinator.--The term ``Family Coordinator'' 
     means an individual placed at a medical center of the 
     Department pursuant to [section ___3].
       (6) Family support program.--The term ``Family Support 
     Program'' means the program established under [section ___4].
       (7) Non-department provider.--The term ``non-Department 
     provider'' means a public or non-profit entity that is not an 
     entity of the Department.
       (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs.
       (9) Supportive services.--The term ``supportive services'' 
     means services that address the social, emotional, and mental 
     health, career-readiness, and other needs of eligible 
     children, including--
       (A) wellness services, including mental, emotional, 
     behavioral, and physical health and nutritional counseling 
     and assistance;
       (B) peer-support programs for children;
       (C) assistance completing college admission and financial 
     aid applications, including the Free Application for Federal 
     Student Aid described in section 483(a) of the Higher 
     Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1090), and accessing veterans' 
     education benefits as defined under section 480(c)(2) of such 
     Act (20 U.S.C. 1087vv) that eligible children may be eligible 
     to receive;
       (D) assistance with accessing workforce development 
     programs, including programs providing the activities 
     authorized under section 129 of the Workforce Innovation and 
     Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164), and programs of vocational 
     rehabilitation services, including programs authorized under 
     title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 720 et 
     seq.);
       (E) sports and recreation;
       (F) after-school care and summer learning opportunities;
       (G) dependent care, including home and community-based 
     services;
       (H) other resources for low-income families;
       (I) assistance transitioning from active duty in the Armed 
     Forces to veteran status; and
       (J) any other services or activities the Secretary 
     considers appropriate to support the needs of eligible 
     children.

     SEC. ___. REQUIREMENTS FOR FAMILY COORDINATORS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than three years after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
       (1) place at each medical center of the Department not 
     fewer than one Family Coordinator; and
       (2) ensure adequate staffing and resources at each such 
     medical center to ensure Family Coordinators are able to 
     carry out their duties.
       (b) Family Coordinators.--
       (1) Employment.--Each Family Coordinator placed at a 
     medical center of the Department under subsection (a) shall 
     be employed full-time by the Department as a Family 
     Coordinator and shall have no other duties in addition to the 
     duties of a Family Coordinator.
       (2) Qualifications.--
       (A) In general.--To qualify to be a Family Coordinator 
     under subsection (a), an individual shall--
       (i) be a social worker licensed, registered, or certified 
     in accordance with the requirements of any State; and
       (ii) have a graduate degree in social work or a related 
     field.
       (B) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the qualifications 
     required by subparagraph (A) to permit individuals in other 
     professions to serve as Family Coordinators.
       (3) Duties.--Each Family Coordinator shall--
       (A) assess the needs of the families of veterans using 
     evidence-based strategies;
       (B) build positive relationships with such families;
       (C) refer veterans to local, State, and Federal resources 
     that support veterans and their families;
       (D) develop and maintain a list of--
       (i) supportive services offered by the medical center at 
     which the Family Coordinator is placed; and
       (ii) supportive services offered at reduced or no cost by 
     non-Department providers located in the catchment area of 
     such medical center; and
       (E) develop and maintain on an internet website a list of 
     family resources that shall be made available for all 
     veterans in the catchment area of such medical center who are 
     enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department 
     established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, 
     United States Code.

     SEC. ___. ESTABLISHMENT OF FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a 
     program to be known as the Family Support Program to provide 
     and coordinate the provision of supportive services to 
     eligible veterans and eligible children.
       (b) Implementation of Family Support Program.--To carry out 
     the Family Support Program, the Secretary shall--
       (1) provide supportive services through medical centers of 
     the Department;
       (2) collaborate with relevant Federal agencies to provide 
     supportive services;
       (3) provide funding to non-Department providers pursuant to 
     subsection (c); and
       (4) engage in any other activities the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (c) Funding to Non-Department Providers.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into contracts and 
     award grants to provide funding to eligible non-Department 
     providers to participate in the Family Support Program.
       (2) Eligibility.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and make 
     publicly available the criteria for a non-Department provider 
     to be eligible to participate in the Family Support Program.
       (B) Criteria.--The criteria required by subparagraph (A) 
     shall include requirements for a non-Department provider--
       (i) to provide a description of--

       (I) each supportive service proposed to be provided to 
     eligible children; and
       (II) the demonstrated record of the non-Department provider 
     in providing such supportive service;

       (ii) to demonstrate the ability to serve families of 
     veterans in a manner that is trauma-informed and culturally 
     and linguistically appropriate; and
       (iii) to agree to oversight by the Secretary regarding--

[[Page S2509]]

       (I) the use of funds provided by the Department under this 
     subsection; and
       (II) the quality of supportive services provided.

       (3) Notice.--The Secretary shall promptly provide to 
     eligible non-Department providers selected by the Secretary 
     to participate in the Family Support Program notice of the 
     award of funds under this subsection to ensure such providers 
     have sufficient time to prepare to provide supportive 
     services under the Family Support Program.
       (4) Authorized activities.--Funds provided under this 
     subsection shall be used to provide supportive services.
       (5) Training.--For each non-Department provider selected by 
     the Secretary to participant in the Family Support Program, 
     the Secretary shall offer training and technical assistance 
     regarding the planning, development, and provision of 
     supportive services under the Family Support Program.
       (d) Coordination With Other Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Programs.--The Secretary shall share best practices with and 
     facilitate referrals of eligible veterans and their families, 
     as appropriate, from the Family Support Program to other 
     programs of the Department, such as the program of support 
     services for caregivers of veterans under section 1720G(b) of 
     title 38, United States Code.
       (e) Reporting Requirements.--
       (1) Annual report.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the commencement of the Family Support Program, and 
     annually thereafter, each non-Department provider in receipt 
     of funds under the Family Support Program shall submit to the 
     Secretary a report describing the supportive services carried 
     out with such funds during the year covered by such report.
       (2) Reports to congress.--
       (A) Report on additional resources.--Not later than 90 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
     shall submit to Congress a report on the potential need for 
     additional resources for family members of eligible veterans 
     other than eligible children.
       (B) Report on progress.--
       (i) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
     commencement of the Family Support Program, 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 progress of the Family 
     Support Program.
       (ii) Contents.--The report required by clause (i) shall 
     include--

       (I) the number of eligible veterans and eligible children 
     who received supportive services under the Family Support 
     Program;
       (II) the demographic data of eligible veterans and family 
     members, including--

       (aa) the relationship to the eligible veteran;
       (bb) age;
       (cc) race;
       (dd) ethnicity;
       (ee) gender;
       (ff) disability; and
       (gg) English proficiency and whether a language other than 
     English is spoken at home;

       (III) a summary of the supportive services carried out 
     under the Family Support Program and the costs to the 
     Department of such supportive services; and
       (IV) an assessment, measured by a survey of participants, 
     of whether participation in the Family Support Program 
     resulted in positive outcomes for eligible veterans and 
     eligible children.

     SEC. ___. OUTREACH ON AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES.

       The Secretary shall conduct an outreach program to ensure 
     eligible veterans who are enrolled in the patient enrollment 
     system of the Department established and operated under 
     section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, employees of 
     the Department, and potential State, local, and Federal 
     entities are informed of the Family Support Program and the 
     availability of Family Coordinators.

     SEC. ___. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE.

       Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary shall include information regarding 
     supportive services available for members of the Armed Forces 
     who are being separated from active duty and their families, 
     including mental health and other services for children, in 
     the transition assistance curriculum offered by the 
     Department.

     SEC. ___. SURVEY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five 
     years, the Secretary shall conduct a survey of disabled 
     veterans and their families to identify and better understand 
     the needs of such disabled veterans and their families.
       (b) Content.--The survey required under subsection (a) 
     shall include questions with respect to--
       (1) the types and quality of support disabled veterans 
     receive from the children of such disabled veterans; and
       (2) the unmet needs of such children.

     SEC. ___. NONDISCRIMINATION.

       The following provisions of law shall apply to any program 
     or activity that receives funds provided under this subtitle:
       (1) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 
     1681 et seq.).
       (2) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
     2000d et seq.).
       (3) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
     U.S.C. 794).
       (4) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     12101 et seq.) .
       (5) The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et 
     seq.).
       (6) Any other applicable Federal civil rights law.

     SEC. ___. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
     such funds as may be necessary to carry out this subtitle.
                                 ______