[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3194 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3194
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a
report on mental health care furnished by the Department of Veterans
Affairs in certain States and a report on funding by Vet Centers of
marketing and outreach.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 4, 2021
Mr. Boozman (for himself, Ms. Smith, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr.
Cotton) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a
report on mental health care furnished by the Department of Veterans
Affairs in certain States and a report on funding by Vet Centers of
marketing and outreach.
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 Support Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2) Covered state.--The term ``covered State'' means each
State (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any
territory or possession of the United States) that has a ratio
of one or fewer Vet Centers per 100,000 or more veterans who
reside in such State (as such population is determined by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through the National
Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, for fiscal year
2021).
(3) Vet center.--The term ``Vet Center''--
(A) has the meaning given that term in section
1712A of title 38, United States Code;
(B) includes Vet Center outstations; and
(C) does not include mobile Vet Centers.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON MENTAL HEALTH CARE FURNISHED BY DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS IN CERTAIN STATES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report regarding mental
health care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans
in each covered State.
(b) Elements.--The report under subsection (a) shall include, with
respect to each covered State, the following:
(1) An assessment of the ability of the Department to
furnish to veterans in such State--
(A) readjustment counseling;
(B) therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and
other trauma-related therapy;
(C) group counseling;
(D) marriage and family counseling;
(E) military sexual trauma counseling;
(F) bereavement counseling;
(G) screenings and referrals for medical issues;
(H) substance abuse assessments and referrals;
(I) employment assessments and referrals; and
(J) explanations and referrals regarding benefits
furnished through the Veterans Benefits Administration
of the Department.
(2) An assessment of the feasibility of establishing
additional Vet Centers in such State.
(3) An assessment of the feasibility of increasing staff at
existing Vet Centers in such State to ensure comprehensive
coverage.
(4) An assessment of any barriers faced by such State
regarding--
(A) demonstrating a need for additional Vet
Centers, mobile Vet Centers, and community access
points;
(B) including travel time as a measure of
productivity while conducting outreach to underserved
areas; and
(C) building a new Vet Center.
(5) An analysis of staffing shortages at Vet Centers in
such State, including delays in approving and processing new
hires.
(6) An outreach strategy for using mobile Vet Centers, Vet
Center outstations, and community access points to ensure that
mental health care services reach veterans in underserved areas
in such State.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON MARKETING AND OUTREACH FUNDING BY VET CENTERS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report regarding funding by
Vet Centers in covered States of marketing and outreach.
(b) Elements.--The report under subsection (a) shall include, with
respect to each covered State, the following:
(1) An accounting of marketing and outreach funding for
each Vet Center in such State.
(2) An assessment of the adequacy of the marketing and
outreach funds for each Vet Center in such State, including the
ability of each such Vet Center to connect with veterans about
services provided.
(3) An analysis of effectiveness of each Vet Center in such
State to market and conduct outreach.
(4) A marketing and outreach strategy for Vet Centers to
ensure that local resources are effectively utilized to connect
with the local veteran community in such State.
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