[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2924 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2924
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to transmit certain information to personnel of Vet
Centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding members of the
Armed Forces transitioning from service in the Armed Forces to civilian
life, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 4, 2021
Ms. Hassan (for herself and Mr. Cramer) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to transmit certain information to personnel of Vet
Centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding members of the
Armed Forces transitioning from service in the Armed Forces to civilian
life, 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 Outreach Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL OF INFORMATION TO VET CENTER PERSONNEL ON MEMBERS
OF ARMED FORCES TRANSITIONING FROM SERVICE IN ARMED
FORCES TO CIVILIAN LIFE.
(a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1730D. Transmittal of information to Vet Center personnel on
members of Armed Forces transitioning from service in
Armed Forces to civilian life
``(a) Transmittal of Information.--Not later than seven days after
the date on which a member or former member of the Armed Forces
separates from service in the Armed Forces, the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, if necessary, shall
transmit the information described in subsection (b) to the personnel
of the Vet Center nearest to where the member or former member intends
to permanently reside after such separation.
``(b) Information Described.--The information described in this
subsection includes, with respect to the member or former member of the
Armed Forces, the following:
``(1) Name.
``(2) Armed Force in which the member served.
``(3) Physical address.
``(4) Email address.
``(5) Phone number.
``(6) Service record.
``(7) Marital status.
``(8) Such other information as the Secretary considers
relevant, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the
Chief Officer of the Readjustment Counseling Service of the
Veterans Health Administration.
``(c) Method of Transmittal.--The Secretary shall transmit
information under subsection (a) electronically, in the form of an
orderly and easily understood list.
``(d) Receipt of Information.--Information transmitted under
subsection (a) shall be received and processed by the Readjustment
Counseling Service as the Chief Officer of the Readjustment Counseling
Service considers appropriate.
``(e) Use of Information.--The Secretary shall ensure that
information transmitted from the Chief Officer of the Readjustment
Counseling Service to Vet Centers is used to contact members and former
members of the Armed Forces transitioning from service in the Armed
Forces to civilian life not more than 14 days after receipt of the
information.
``(f) Referral to Closer Vet Center.--If it is found, after
personnel of a Vet Center contact a member or former member of the
Armed Forces transitioning from service in the Armed Forces to civilian
life, that another Vet Center is closer to where the member or former
lives, the personnel who initially contacted the member or former
member shall, only with the consent of the member or former member,
directly connect the member or former member to the relevant personnel
of the other Vet Center.
``(g) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term `Vet Center'
has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of this title.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 1730C the following new item:
``1730D. Transmittal of information to Vet Center personnel on members
of Armed Forces transitioning from service
in Armed Forces to civilian life.''.
SEC. 3. PROVISION OF INFORMATION UNDER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--As part of the Transition Assistance Program, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide to members of the Armed
Forces the following information:
(1) Instructions on how to locate Vet Centers, with a focus
on the location where the members of the Armed Forces may
intend to permanently reside after separation from service in
the Armed Forces.
(2) An explanation how to use services provided through Vet
Centers, including the social, emotional, and mental health
services offered.
(b) Manner of Provision.--The Secretary shall provide the
information under subsection (a) during instructor-led classroom and
virtual courses.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Transition assistance program.--The term ``Transition
Assistance Program'' means the preseparation counseling,
employment assistance, and other transitional services provided
under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
(2) Vet center.--The term ``Vet Center'' has the meaning
given that term in section 1712A(h) of title 38, United States
Code.
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