[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 190 (Wednesday, November 15, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5556-S5558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             COMMITMENT TO VETERAN SUPPORT AND OUTREACH ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration Calendar No. 117, S. 106.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 106) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
     authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants 
     to States to improve outreach to 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 ``Commitment to Veteran 
     Support and Outreach Act''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO AWARD 
                   GRANTS TO STATES TO IMPROVE OUTREACH TO 
                   VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 6307 and 6308 and sections 
     6308 and 6309, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 6306 the following new 
     section 6307:

     ``Sec. 6307. Grants to States to improve outreach to veterans

       ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
     provide for assistance by the Secretary to States to carry 
     out programs that improve outreach and assistance to veterans 
     and the spouses, children, and parents of veterans, to ensure 
     that such individuals are fully informed about, and assisted 
     in applying for, any veterans and veterans-related benefits 
     and programs (including State veterans programs) for which 
     they may be eligible.
       ``(b) Authority.--The Secretary may award grants to 
     States--
       ``(1) to carry out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise 
     enhance--
       ``(A) outreach activities; or
       ``(B) activities to assist in the development and submittal 
     of claims for veterans and veterans-related benefits; or
       ``(2) to increase the number of county or tribal veterans 
     service officers serving in the State by hiring new, 
     additional such officers.
       ``(c) Application.--(1) To be eligible for a grant under 
     this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary an 
     application therefor at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information as the Secretary may require.
       ``(2) Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       ``(A) A detailed plan for the use of the grant.
       ``(B) A description of the programs through which the State 
     will meet the outcome measures developed by the Secretary 
     under subsection (i).
       ``(C) A description of how the State will distribute grant 
     amounts equitably among counties with varying levels of 
     urbanization.
       ``(D) A plan for how the grant will be used to meet the 
     unique needs of American Indian veterans, Alaska Native 
     veterans, or Native Hawaiian veterans, elderly veterans, 
     women veterans, and veterans from other underserved 
     communities.
       ``(d) Distribution.--The Secretary shall seek to ensure 
     that grants awarded under this section are equitably 
     distributed among States with varying levels of urbanization.
       ``(e) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize awarding 
     grants under this section that will serve the following 
     areas:
       ``(1) Areas with a critical shortage of county or tribal 
     veterans service officers.
       ``(2) Areas with high rates of--
       ``(A) suicide among veterans; or
       ``(B) referrals to the Veterans Crisis Line.
       ``(f) Use of County or Tribal Veterans Service Officers.--A 
     State that receives a grant under this section to carry out 
     an activity described in subsection (b)(1) shall carry out 
     the activity through--
       ``(1) a county or tribal veterans service officer of the 
     State; or
       ``(2) if the State does not have a county or tribal 
     veterans service officer, or if the county or tribal veterans 
     service officers of the State cover only a portion of that 
     State, an appropriate entity of a State, local, or tribal 
     government, or another publicly funded entity, as determined 
     by the Secretary.
       ``(g) Required Activities.--Any grant awarded under this 
     section shall be used--
       ``(1) to expand existing programs, activities, and 
     services;
       ``(2) to hire new, additional county or tribal veterans 
     service officers; or
       ``(3) for travel and transportation to facilitate carrying 
     out paragraph (1) or (2).
       ``(h) Authorized Activities.--A grant under this section 
     may be used to provide education and training, including on-
     the-job training, for State, county, local, and tribal 
     government employees who provide (or when trained will 
     provide) veterans outreach services in order for those 
     employees to obtain accreditation in accordance with 
     procedures approved by the Secretary.
       ``(i) Outcome Measures.--(1) The Secretary shall develop 
     and provide to each State that receives a grant under this 
     section written guidance on the following:
       ``(A) Outcome measures.
       ``(B) Policies of the Department.

[[Page S5557]]

       ``(2) In developing outcome measures under paragraph (1), 
     the Secretary shall consider the following goals:
       ``(A) Increasing the use of veterans and veterans-related 
     benefits, particularly among vulnerable populations.
       ``(B) Increasing the number of county and tribal veterans 
     service officers recognized by the Secretary for the 
     representation of veterans under chapter 59 of this title.
       ``(j) Tracking Requirements.--(1) With respect to each 
     grant awarded under this section, the Secretary shall track 
     the use of veterans and veterans-related benefits among the 
     population served by the grant, including the average period 
     of time between the date on which a veteran applies for such 
     a benefit and the date on which the veteran receives the 
     benefit, disaggregated by type of benefit.
       ``(2) Not less frequently than annually, the Secretary 
     shall submit to Congress a report on the information tracked 
     under paragraph (1).
       ``(k) Performance Review.--(1) The Secretary shall--
       ``(A) review the performance of each State that receives a 
     grant under this section; and
       ``(B) make information regarding such performance publicly 
     available.
       ``(l) Remediation Plan.--(1) In the case of a State that 
     receives a grant under this section and does not meet the 
     outcome measures developed by the Secretary under subsection 
     (i), the Secretary shall require the State to submit a 
     remediation plan under which the State shall describe how and 
     when it plans to meet such outcome measures.
       ``(2) The Secretary may not award a subsequent grant under 
     this section to a State described in paragraph (1) unless the 
     Secretary approves the remediation plan submitted by the 
     State.
       ``(m) Maximum Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under 
     this section may not exceed 10 percent of amounts made 
     available for grants under this section for the fiscal year 
     in which the grant is awarded.
       ``(n) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Any grant awarded under 
     this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant 
     State and local funding that is otherwise available.
       ``(o) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `county or tribal veterans service officer' 
     includes a local equivalent veterans service officer.
       ``(2) The term `Veterans Crisis Line' means the toll-free 
     hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of 
     this title.
       ``(p) Funding.--(1) Amounts for the activities of the 
     Department under this section shall be budgeted and 
     appropriated through a separate appropriation account.
       ``(2) In the budget justification materials submitted to 
     Congress in support of the Department budget for any fiscal 
     year (as submitted with the budget of the President under 
     section 1105(a) of title 31), the Secretary shall include a 
     separate statement of the amount requested to be appropriated 
     for that fiscal year for the account specified in paragraph 
     (1).
       ``(q) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 
     2023, 2024, and 2025, $50,000,000 to carry out this 
     section.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 63 of such title is amended by striking 
     the items relating to sections 6307 and 6308 and inserting 
     the following new items:

``6307. Grants to States to improve outreach to veterans.
``6308. Outreach for eligible dependents.
``6309. Biennial report to Congress.''.

  Mr. SCHUMER. I further ask that the committee-reported substitute 
amendment be withdrawn; that the Baldwin substitute amendment, which is 
at the desk, be considered and 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 with no 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was 
withdrawn.
  The amendment (No. 1368), in the nature of a substitute, was agreed 
to, as follows:

                     (Purpose: To improve the bill)

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
                   AWARD GRANTS TO STATES TO IMPROVE OUTREACH TO 
                   VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 6307 and 6308 as sections 
     6308 and 6309, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 6306 the following new 
     section 6307:

     ``Sec. 6307. Grants to States to improve outreach to veterans

       ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
     provide for assistance by the Secretary to States to carry 
     out programs that improve covered outreach and assistance to 
     veterans and the spouses, children, and parents of veterans, 
     to ensure that such individuals are fully informed about, and 
     assisted in applying for, any veterans and veterans-related 
     benefits and programs (including State veterans programs) for 
     which they may be eligible.
       ``(b) Authority.--The Secretary may award grants to 
     States--
       ``(1) to carry out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise 
     enhance--
       ``(A) covered outreach activities; or
       ``(B) activities to assist in the development and submittal 
     of claims for veterans and veterans-related benefits; or
       ``(2) to increase the number of county or tribal veterans 
     service officers serving in the State by hiring new, 
     additional such officers.
       ``(c) Application.--(1) To be eligible for a grant under 
     this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary an 
     application therefor at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information as the Secretary may require.
       ``(2) Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       ``(A) A detailed plan for the use of the grant.
       ``(B) A description of the programs through which the State 
     will meet the outcome measures developed by the Secretary 
     under subsection (i).
       ``(C) A description of how the State will distribute grant 
     amounts equitably among counties with varying levels of 
     urbanization.
       ``(D) A plan for how the grant will be used to meet the 
     unique needs of American Indian veterans, Alaska Native 
     veterans, or Native Hawaiian veterans, elderly veterans, and 
     veterans from other underserved communities.
       ``(d) Distribution.--The Secretary shall seek to ensure 
     that grants awarded under this section are equitably 
     distributed among States with varying levels of urbanization.
       ``(e) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize awarding 
     grants under this section that will serve the following 
     areas:
       ``(1) Areas with a critical shortage of county or tribal 
     veterans service officers.
       ``(2) Areas with high rates of--
       ``(A) suicide among veterans; or
       ``(B) referrals to the Veterans Crisis Line.
       ``(f) Use of County or Tribal Veterans Service Officers.--A 
     State that receives a grant under this section to carry out 
     an activity described in subsection (b)(1) shall carry out 
     the activity through--
       ``(1) a county or tribal veterans service officer of the 
     State; or
       ``(2) if the State does not have a county or tribal 
     veterans service officer, or if the county or tribal veterans 
     service officers of the State cover only a portion of that 
     State, an appropriate entity of a State, local, or tribal 
     government, or another publicly funded entity, as determined 
     by the Secretary.
       ``(g) Required Activities.--Any grant awarded under this 
     section shall be used--
       ``(1) to expand existing programs, activities, and 
     services;
       ``(2) to hire new, additional county or tribal veterans 
     service officers; or
       ``(3) for travel and transportation to facilitate carrying 
     out paragraph (1) or (2).
       ``(h) Authorized Activities.--A grant under this section 
     may be used to provide education and training, including on-
     the-job training, for State, county, local, and tribal 
     government employees who provide (or when trained will 
     provide) covered outreach services in order for those 
     employees to obtain accreditation in accordance with 
     procedures approved by the Secretary.
       ``(i) Outcome Measures.--(1) The Secretary shall develop 
     and provide to each State that receives a grant under this 
     section written guidance on the following:
       ``(A) Outcome measures.
       ``(B) Policies of the Department.
       ``(2) In developing outcome measures under paragraph (1), 
     the Secretary shall consider the following goals:
       ``(A) Increasing the use of veterans and veterans-related 
     benefits, particularly among vulnerable populations.
       ``(B) Increasing the number of county and tribal veterans 
     service officers recognized by the Secretary for the 
     representation of veterans under chapter 59 of this title.
       ``(j) Tracking Requirements.--(1) With respect to each 
     grant awarded under this section, the Secretary shall track 
     the use of veterans and veterans-related benefits among the 
     population served by the grant, including the average period 
     of time between the date on which a veteran applies for such 
     a benefit and the date on which the veteran receives the 
     benefit, disaggregated by type of benefit.
       ``(2) Not less frequently than annually, the Secretary 
     shall submit to Congress a report on the information tracked 
     under paragraph (1).
       ``(k) Performance Review.--(1) The Secretary shall--
       ``(A) review the performance of each State that receives a 
     grant under this section; and
       ``(B) make information regarding such performance publicly 
     available.
       ``(l) Remediation Plan.--(1) In the case of a State that 
     receives a grant under this section and does not meet the 
     outcome measures developed by the Secretary under subsection 
     (i), the Secretary shall require the State to submit a 
     remediation plan under which the State shall describe how and 
     when it plans to meet such outcome measures.
       ``(2) The Secretary may not award a subsequent grant under 
     this section to a State described in paragraph (1) unless the 
     Secretary approves the remediation plan submitted by the 
     State.
       ``(m) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `county or tribal veterans service officer' 
     includes a local equivalent veterans service officer.
       ``(2) The term `covered outreach' means outreach with 
     respect to--
       ``(A) benefits administered by the Under Secretary for 
     Benefits; or
       ``(B) similar benefits administered by a State or Indian 
     Tribe.

[[Page S5558]]

       ``(3) The term `Veterans Crisis Line' means the toll-free 
     hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of 
     this title.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 63 of such title is amended by striking 
     the items relating to sections 6307 and 6308 and inserting 
     the following new items:

``6307. Grants to States to improve outreach to veterans.
``6308. Outreach for eligible dependents.
``6309. Biennial report to Congress.''.
  The bill (S. 106), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

                          ____________________