[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3251 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3251
To require the Federal Communications Commission, in coordination with
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to designate a simple, easy-to-
remember dialing code for veterans and other eligible individuals to
use to obtain information about the benefits and services provided by
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 4, 2020
Ms. Rosen (for herself, Mrs. Capito, Mrs. Fischer, and Mr. Peters)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Federal Communications Commission, in coordination with
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to designate a simple, easy-to-
remember dialing code for veterans and other eligible individuals to
use to obtain information about the benefits and services provided by
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Assistance Helpline Act''.
SEC. 2. TELEPHONE HELPLINE FOR ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS AND OTHER
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission;
(2) the term ``covered dialing code'' means a simple, easy-
to-remember, 3-digit dialing code;
(3) 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;
(4) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs; and
(5) the term ``veteran'' has the meaning given the term in
section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(b) Establishment of Helpline.--
(1) In general.--The Commission, in coordination with the
Secretary, and after conducting the study required under
subsection (c), shall designate a covered dialing code for the
purposes of 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,
including any service provided by the Department of Veterans
Affairs in the area in which the covered individual is located.
(2) Contract for direction of calls.--The Commission, in
coordination with the Secretary, may enter into a contract with
an outside entity to direct calls made to the telephone
helpline established under paragraph (1) to the appropriate
person regarding a service or benefit described in that
paragraph.
(3) Live individual.--The Commission, in coordination with
the Secretary, shall ensure that a covered individual using the
telephone helpline established under paragraph (1) speaks with
a live individual rather than a recording.
(c) Study Required.--
(1) In general.--The Commission, in coordination with the
Secretary, shall conduct a study to determine which covered
dialing code is most appropriate for the designation required
under subsection (b)(1).
(2) Requirements.--In conducting the study required under
paragraph (1), the Commission, in coordination with the
Secretary, shall--
(A) consider all covered dialing codes, including
the codes that are used for other purposes;
(B) give preference to any code with which covered
individuals are likely to be familiar; and
(C) consult with the North American Numbering
Council.
(3) Deadline for completion.--The Commission, in
coordination with the Secretary, shall complete the study
required under paragraph (1) not later than the date that is
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(4) No additional funds authorized.--No additional funds
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection
and this subsection shall be carried out using amounts
otherwise authorized.
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