[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1944 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1944
To improve Vet Centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 27, 2021
Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Tester) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve Vet Centers of 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 ``Vet Center Improvement Act of
2021''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Vet center.--The term ``Vet Center'' has the meaning
given that term in section 1712A(h) of title 38, United States
Code.
(2) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans
service organization'' means an organization recognized by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of
veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3. PRODUCTIVITY EXPECTATIONS FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELORS OF VET
CENTERS.
(a) Evaluation of Productivity Expectations.--Not later than one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall evaluate productivity expectations for
readjustment counselors of Vet Centers, including by obtaining
systematic feedback from counselors on such expectations, including
with respect to following:
(1) Any potential effects of productivity expectations,
whether positive or negative, on client care.
(2) Distances readjustment counselors may travel to
appointments, especially with respect to serving rural
veterans.
(3) The possibility that some veterans may not want to use
nor benefit from telehealth or group counseling.
(4) Availability and access of veteran populations to
broadband and telehealth.
(5) Any effect of productivity expectations on readjustment
counselors, including with respect to recruitment, retention,
and welfare.
(6) Whether productivity expectations provide incentives or
pressure to inaccurately report client visits.
(7) Whether directors and readjustment counselors of Vet
Centers need additional training or guidance on how
productivity expectations are calculated.
(8) Such other criteria as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(b) Systematic Feedback.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
(A) make every effort to ensure that all
readjustment counselors of Vet Centers are given the
opportunity to fully provide feedback, positive or
negative, on all items under subsection (a);
(B) collect and safely store the feedback obtained
under subsection (a)--
(i) in an electronic database that cannot
be altered by any party;
(ii) in an anonymized manner, in order to
protect the privacy of each respondent; and
(iii) in a manner that allows for
evaluation by third parties of the feedback,
such as audit of the feedback by the Government
Accountability Office; and
(C) provide the feedback obtained under subsection
(a) in an anonymized manner to the working group
established under section 5.
(2) Government accountability office audit.--Not less
frequently than once each year during the five-year period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall audit the
feedback obtained from readjustment counselors of Vet Centers
under subsection (a).
(c) Implementation of Changes.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of the completion of the evaluation required by subsection (a),
the Secretary shall implement any needed changes to the productivity
expectations described in such subsection in order to ensure--
(1) quality of care and access to care for veterans; and
(2) the welfare of readjustment counselors.
(d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the completion of the evaluation required by subsection (a), the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on--
(1) the findings of the evaluation; and
(2) any planned or implemented changes described in
subsection (c).
(e) Plan for Reassessment and Implementation.--
(1) Plan.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and
implement a plan for--
(A) reassessing productivity expectations for
readjustment counselors of Vet Centers, in consultation
with such counselors; and
(B) implementing any needed changes to such
expectations, as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(2) Reassessments.--Under the plan required by paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall conduct a reassessment described in
such paragraph not less frequently than once each year.
SEC. 4. STAFFING MODEL FOR VET CENTERS.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop
and implement a staffing model for Vet Centers that incorporates key
practices in the design of such staffing model.
(b) Elements.--In developing the staffing model under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall--
(1) involve key stakeholders, including readjustment
counselors, outreach specialists, and directors of Vet Centers;
(2) incorporate key work activities and the frequency and
time required to conduct such activities;
(3) ensure the data used in the model is high quality to
provide assurance that staffing estimates are reliable; and
(4) incorporate--
(A) risk factors, including case complexity;
(B) geography;
(C) availability, advisability, and willingness of
veterans to use telehealth or group counseling; and
(D) such other factors as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(c) Plan for Assessments and Updates.--Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
develop a plan for--
(1) assessing and updating the staffing model developed and
implemented under subsection (a) not less frequently than once
every four years; and
(2) implementing any needed changes to such model, as the
Secretary determines appropriate.
SEC. 5. WORKING GROUP OF READJUSTMENT COUNSELORS, OUTREACH SPECIALISTS,
AND DIRECTORS OF VET CENTERS.
(a) In General.--In conducting the evaluation of productivity
expectations under section 3(a) and developing the staffing model for
Vet Centers under section 4(a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish a working group to assess--
(1) the efficacy, impact, and composition of performance
metrics for such expectations with respect to--
(A) quality of care and access to care for
veterans; and
(B) the welfare of readjustment counselors and
other employees of Vet Centers; and
(2) key considerations for the development of such staffing
model, including with respect to--
(A) quality of care and access to care for veterans
and other individuals eligible for care through Vet
Centers; and
(B) recruitment, retention, and welfare of
employees of Vet Centers.
(b) Membership.--The working group established under subsection (a)
shall be composed of readjustment counselors, outreach specialists, and
directors of Vet Centers.
(c) Feedback and Recommendations.--The working group established
under subsection (a) shall provide to the Secretary--
(1) feedback from readjustment counselors, outreach
specialists, and directors of Vet Centers; and
(2) recommendations on how to improve--
(A) quality of care and access to care for
veterans; and
(B) the welfare of readjustment counselors and
other employees of Vet Centers.
SEC. 6. IMPROVEMENTS OF HIRING PRACTICES AT VET CENTERS.
(a) Standardization of Position Descriptions.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall standardize descriptions of position responsibilities at
Vet Centers.
(2) Reporting requirement.--In each of the first two annual
reports submitted under section 7309(e) of title 38, United
States Code, after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall include a description of the actions taken by
the Secretary to carry out paragraph (1).
(b) Expansion of Reporting Requirements on Readjustment Counseling
to Include Actions to Reduce Staffing Vacancies and Time to Hire.--
Section 7309(e)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(D) A description of actions taken by the Secretary to
reduce--
``(i) vacancies in counselor positions in the
Readjustment Counseling Service; and
``(ii) the time it takes to hire such
counselors.''.
SEC. 7. REPORT BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE ON VET CENTER
INFRASTRUCTURE AND FUTURE INVESTMENTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to Congress a report on physical infrastructure and future
investments with respect to Vet Centers.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) An assessment of--
(A) the condition of the physical infrastructure of
all assets of Vet Centers, whether owned or leased by
the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
(B) the short-, medium-, and long-term plans of the
Department to maintain and upgrade the physical
infrastructure of Vet Centers to address the
operational needs of Vet Centers as of the date of the
submittal of the report and future needs.
(2) An assessment of management and strategic planning for
the physical infrastructure of Vet Centers, including whether
the Department should buy or lease existing or additional
locations in areas with stable or growing populations of
veterans.
(3) An assessment of whether, as of the date of the
submittal of the report, Vet Center buildings, mobile Vet
Centers, community access points, and similar infrastructure
are sufficient to care for veterans or if such infrastructure
is negatively affecting care due to limited space for veterans
and Vet Center personnel or other factors.
(4) An assessment of the areas with the greatest need for
investments in--
(A) improved physical infrastructure, including
upgraded Vet Centers; or
(B) additional physical infrastructure for Vet
Centers, including new Vet Centers owned or leased by
the Department.
(5) A description of the authorities and resources that may
be required for the Secretary to make such investments.
(6) A review of all annual reports submitted under 7309(e)
of title 38, United States Code, before the date of the
submittal of the report under subsection (a).
SEC. 8. PILOT PROGRAM TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY AMONG VETERANS AND
FAMILY MEMBERS OF VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible entities to
support partnerships that address food insecurity among veterans and
family members of veterans who receive services through Vet Centers or
other facilities of the Department as determined by the Secretary.
(b) Eligible Entities.--For purposes of the pilot program, an
eligible entity is--
(1) a nonprofit organization;
(2) a veterans service organization;
(3) a public agency;
(4) a community-based organization; or
(5) an institution of higher education.
(c) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under the
pilot program shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
(d) Selection.--The Secretary shall select eligible entities that
submit applications under subsection (c) for the award of grants under
the pilot program using a competitive process that takes into account
the following:
(1) Capacity of the applicant entity to serve veterans and
family members of veterans.
(2) Demonstrated need of the population the applicant
entity would serve.
(3) Demonstrated need of the applicant entity for
assistance from the grant.
(4) Such other criteria as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(e) Distribution.--The Secretary shall ensure, to the extent
practicable, an equitable geographic distribution of grants awarded
under this section.
(f) Minimum Program Requirements.--Any grant awarded under this
section shall be used--
(1) to carry out a collaboration between one or more
eligible entities and one or more Vet Centers or other
facilities of the Department for five years;
(2) to increase participation in nutrition counseling
programs and provide educational materials and counseling to
veterans and family members of veterans to address food
insecurity and healthy diets among those individuals;
(3) to increase access to and enrollment in Federal
assistance programs, including the supplemental nutrition
assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the special supplemental nutrition
program for women, infants, and children established by section
17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), the
low-income home energy assistance program established under the
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621
et seq.), and any other assistance program that the Secretary
considers advisable; and
(4) to fulfill such other criteria as the Secretary
considers appropriate to further the purpose of the grant and
serve veterans.
(g) Provision of Information.--Each entity that receives a grant
under this section shall provide to the Secretary, at least once each
year during the duration of the grant term, data on--
(1) the number of veterans and family members of veterans
screened for, and enrolled in, programs described in paragraphs
(2) and (3) of subsection (f);
(2) other services provided by the entity to veterans and
family members of veterans using funds from the grant; and
(3) such other data as the Secretary may require.
(h) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the status of the implementation of
this section.
(i) Government Accountability Office Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date on
which the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General of
the United States shall submit to Congress a report evaluating
the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this
section in reducing food insecurity among veterans and family
members of veterans.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) A summary of the activities carried out under
this section.
(B) An assessment of the effectiveness of the
grants awarded under this section, including with
respect to eligibility screening contacts, application
assistance consultations, and changes in food
insecurity among the population served by the grant.
(C) Best practices regarding the use of
partnerships to improve the effectiveness of public
benefit programs to address food insecurity among
veterans and family members of veterans.
(D) An assessment of the feasibility and
advisability of extending the term of the pilot
program.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out the pilot program established under subsection (a)
$50,000,000 for each fiscal year in which the program is
carried out, beginning with the fiscal year in which the
program is established.
(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amounts authorized to
be appropriated under paragraph (1), not more than 5 percent
may be used for administrative expenses of the Department of
Veterans Affairs associated with administering grants under
this section.
(k) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Facilities of the department.--The term ``facilities of
the Department'' has the meaning given that term in section
1701(3) of title 38, United States Code.
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(4) Public agency.--The term ``public agency'' means a
department, agency, other unit, or instrumentality of Federal,
State, Tribal, or local government.
(5) State.--The term ``State'' means each State and
Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, and
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(6) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' means an individual who
served in the Armed Forces, including an individual who served
in a reserve component of the Armed Forces, and who was
discharged or released therefrom, regardless of the conditions
of such discharge or release.
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