[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 113 (Tuesday, July 9, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4275-S4276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2079. Mr. KING (for himself and Mr. Cramer) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2025 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

[[Page S4276]]

other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. PRESENTATION TO PROMOTE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO 
                   VETERANS IN PRESEPARATION COUNSELING UNDER THE 
                   TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 1142(b) of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(20) A presentation that promotes the benefits available 
     to veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs. Such presentation--
       ``(A) shall be standardized;
       ``(B) shall, before implementation, be reviewed and 
     approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 
     collaboration with veterans service organizations that 
     provide claims assistance under the benefits delivery at 
     discharge program of the Department of Veterans Affairs;
       ``(C) shall be submitted by the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 
     and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives for review at least 90 days before 
     implementation;
       ``(D) where available, shall be presented with the 
     participation of--
       ``(i) a representative of a veterans service organization 
     recognized under section 5902 of title 38; or
       ``(ii) an individual--

       ``(I) recognized under section 5903 of such title; and
       ``(II) authorized by the Secretary concerned to so 
     participate;

       ``(E) shall include information on how a veterans service 
     organization may assist the member in filing a claim 
     described in paragraph (19);
       ``(F) may not encourage the member to join a particular 
     veterans service organization; and
       ``(G) may not exceed one hour in duration.''.
       (b) Annual Report.--Not less than frequently than once each 
     year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee 
     on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
     that--
       (1) identifies each veterans service organization that 
     participated in a presentation under paragraph (20) of 
     section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a);
       (2) contains the number of members of the Armed Forces who 
     attended such presentations; and
       (3) includes any recommendations of the Secretary regarding 
     changes to such presentation or to such paragraph.
                                 ______