[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2493. Ms. ROSEN (for herself and Mrs. Fischer) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by her 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 other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

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

     SEC. ___. TELEPHONE HELPLINE FOR ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS AND 
                   OTHER ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.

       (a) Maintenance of Helpline.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall maintain a toll-free 
     telephone helpline that a covered individual may use to 
     obtain information about, or through which a covered 
     individual may be directed to, any service or benefit 
     provided under a law administered by the Secretary.
       (2) Contract for direction of calls authorized.--The 
     Secretary may enter into a contract with a third-party to 
     direct calls made to the toll-free helpline maintained 
     pursuant to paragraph (1) to the appropriate office regarding 
     a service or benefit described in that paragraph.
       (3) Live individual required.--The Secretary shall ensure 
     that a covered individual using the telephone helpline 
     maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) has the option to speak 
     with a live individual.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual'' 
     means--
       (A) a veteran;
       (B) an individual acting on behalf of a veteran; or
       (C) an individual, other than a veteran, who is eligible to 
     receive a benefit or service under a law administered by the 
     Secretary.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs.
       (3) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
     the term in section 2002(b) of title 38, United States Code.
                                 ______