[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4276 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4276
To improve services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for
veteran families, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 19 (legislative day, May 17), 2022
Mrs. Murray introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for
veteran families, 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 ``Helping Heroes Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) Disabled veteran.--The term ``disabled veteran'' has
the meaning given that term in section 4211 of title 38, United
States Code.
(3) Educational service agency; local educational agency;
other staff; school leader; specialized instructional support
personnel.--The terms ``educational service agency'', ``local
educational agency'', ``other staff'', ``school leader'', and
``specialized instructional support personnel'' have the
meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(4) Eligible child.--The term ``eligible child'', with
respect to an eligible veteran, means an individual who--
(A) is a ward, child (including stepchild),
grandchild, or sibling (including stepsibling or
halfsibling) of the eligible veteran; and
(B) is less than 18 years of age.
(5) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran'' means
a disabled veteran who has a service-connected disability rated
at 70 percent or more.
(6) Family coordinator.--The term ``Family Coordinator''
means an individual placed at a medical center of the
Department pursuant to section 3.
(7) Family support program.--The term ``Family Support
Program'' means the program established under section 4.
(8) Non-department provider.--The term ``non-Department
provider'' means a public or non-profit entity that is not an
entity of the Department.
(9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs.
(10) Supportive services.--The term ``supportive services''
means services that address the social, emotional, and mental
health, career-readiness, and other needs of eligible children,
including--
(A) wellness services, including mental, emotional,
behavioral, and physical health and nutritional
counseling and assistance;
(B) peer-support programs for children;
(C) assistance completing college admission and
financial aid applications, including the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid described in
section 483(a) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C.
1090), and accessing veterans' education benefits as
defined under section 480(c)(2) of such Act (20 U.S.C.
1087vv) that eligible children may be eligible to
receive;
(D) assistance with accessing workforce development
programs, including programs providing the activities
authorized under section 129 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164), and
programs of vocational rehabilitation services,
including programs authorized under title I of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 720 et seq.);
(E) sports and recreation;
(F) after-school care and summer learning
opportunities;
(G) dependent care, including home and community-
based services;
(H) other resources for low-income families;
(I) assistance transitioning from active duty in
the Armed Forces to veteran status; and
(J) any other services or activities the Secretary
considers appropriate to support the needs of eligible
children.
(11) Veteran-connected student.--The term ``veteran-
connected student'' means a student whose parent or guardian
previously served in the Armed Forces, a Reserve component of
the Armed Forces, or the National Guard.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR FAMILY COORDINATORS.
(a) In General.--Not later than three years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
(1) place at each medical center of the Department not
fewer than one Family Coordinator; and
(2) ensure adequate staffing and resources at each such
medical center to ensure Family Coordinators are able to carry
out their duties.
(b) Family Coordinators.--
(1) Employment.--Each Family Coordinator placed at a
medical center of the Department under subsection (a) shall be
employed full-time by the Department as a Family Coordinator
and shall have no other duties in addition to the duties of a
Family Coordinator.
(2) Qualifications.--To qualify to be a Family Coordinator
under subsection (a), an individual shall--
(A) be a social worker licensed in accordance with
the requirements of the State in which such individual
is employed; and
(B) have a graduate degree in social work or a
related field.
(3) Duties.--Each Family Coordinator shall--
(A) assess the needs of the families of veterans
using evidence-based strategies;
(B) build positive relationships with such
families;
(C) refer veterans to local, State, and Federal
resources that support veterans and their families;
(D) develop and maintain a list of--
(i) supportive services offered by the
medical center at which the Family Coordinator
is placed; and
(ii) supportive services offered at reduced
or no cost by non-Department providers located
in the catchment area of such medical center;
and
(E) develop and maintain on an internet website a
list of family resources that shall be made available
for all veterans in the catchment area of such medical
center who are enrolled in the patient enrollment
system of the Department established and operated under
section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to be
known as the Family Support Program to provide and coordinate the
provision of supportive services to eligible veterans and eligible
children.
(b) Implementation of Family Support Program.--To carry out the
Family Support Program, the Secretary shall--
(1) provide supportive services through medical centers of
the Department;
(2) collaborate with relevant Federal agencies to provide
supportive services;
(3) provide financial assistance to non-Department
providers pursuant to subsection (c); and
(4) engage in any other activities the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(c) Financial Assistance to Non-Department Providers.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into contracts and
award grants to provide financial assistance to eligible non-
Department providers to participate in the Family Support
Program.
(2) Eligibility.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and
make publicly available the criteria for a non-
Department provider to be eligible for financial
assistance under this subsection.
(B) Criteria.--The criteria required by
subparagraph (A) shall include requirements for a non-
Department provider--
(i) to provide a description of--
(I) each supportive service
proposed to be provided to eligible
children; and
(II) the demonstrated record of the
non-Department provider in providing
such supportive service;
(ii) to demonstrate the ability to serve
families of veterans in a manner that is
trauma-informed and culturally and
linguistically appropriate; and
(iii) to agree to oversight by the
Secretary regarding--
(I) the use of financial assistance
provided by the Department under this
subsection; and
(II) the quality of supportive
services provided.
(3) Notice.--The Secretary shall promptly provide to
eligible non-Department providers selected by the Secretary to
receive financial assistance under this subsection notice of
the award of such financial assistance to ensure such providers
have sufficient time to prepare to provide supportive services
under the Family Support Program.
(4) Authorized activities.--Financial assistance provided
under this subsection shall be used to provide supportive
services.
(5) Training to recipients of financial assistance.--For
each recipient of financial assistance under this subsection,
the Secretary shall provide training and technical assistance
regarding the planning, development, and provision of
supportive services under the Family Support Program.
(d) Coordination With Other Department of Veterans Affairs
Programs.--The Secretary shall share best practices with and facilitate
referrals of eligible veterans and their families, as appropriate, from
the Family Support Program to other programs of the Department, such as
the program of support services for caregivers of veterans under
section 1720G(b) of title 38, United States Code.
(e) Reporting Requirements.--
(1) Annual report.--Not later than one year after the date
of the commencement of the Family Support Program, and annually
thereafter, each non-Department provider in receipt of
financial assistance under the Family Support Program shall
submit to the Secretary a report describing the supportive
services carried out with such financial assistance during the
year covered by such report.
(2) Report to congress.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the
commencement of the Family Support Program, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the
progress of the Family Support Program.
(B) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1)
shall include--
(i) the number of eligible veterans and
eligible children who received supportive
services under the Family Support Program;
(ii) the demographic data of eligible
veterans and eligible family members,
including--
(I) the relationship to the
eligible veteran;
(II) age;
(III) race;
(IV) ethnicity;
(V) gender identity;
(VI) sexual orientation;
(VII) disability; and
(VIII) English proficiency and
whether a language other than English
is spoken at home;
(iii) a summary of the supportive services
carried out under the Family Support Program
and the costs to the Department of such
supportive services; and
(iv) an assessment, measured by a survey of
participants, of whether participation in the
Family Support Program resulted in positive
outcomes for eligible veterans and eligible
children.
SEC. 5. VETERAN-CONNECTED STUDENT GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Authorization of Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Secretary of Education, shall award grants, on a competitive
basis, to local educational agencies in order to better meet
academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of
veteran-connected students.
(2) Eligibility.--A local educational agency shall be
eligible for a grant under this section if such agency partners
with a nearby medical center of the Department that employs at
least one Family Coordinator.
(3) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall be
for a period of not more than five years.
(4) Diversity of projects.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent
practicable, grants are distributed among local educational
agencies that will serve geographically diverse areas,
including urban, suburban, and rural areas.
(5) Priorities.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education,
shall give priority to applications that are submitted by local
educational agencies that are in the highest quartile of local
educational agencies in a ranking of all qualified local
educational agencies in the State, ranked in descending order
by the number and percentage of children in each agency counted
under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)).
(b) Application.--
(1) In general.--In order to receive a grant under
subsection (a), a local educational agency shall submit an
application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably
require.
(2) Contents.--An application submitted by an agency under
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) a description of how the agency will identify
veteran-connected students such as through survey
instruments or data sharing agreements, in accordance
with applicable Federal privacy laws;
(B) a description of how the agency will
collaborate with a Family Coordinator to increase wrap
around supports provided to veteran-connected students
and families of veterans, including how services will
be provided by such agency or a medical center of the
Department, as appropriate;
(C) a description of how the agency will expand
access to evidence-based academic supports for veteran-
connected students, such as tutoring or college and
career counseling, to improve the academic outcomes of
such students;
(D) an assurance that the agency will designate an
employee of a local educational agency to serve as a
liaison to families of veterans to coordinate with
Family Coordinators to meet the academic, social,
emotional, and mental health needs of veteran-connected
students, including through the Family Support Program;
and
(E) a description of a preliminary memorandum of
understanding signed between the agency and a
partnering medical center of the Department detailing
the financial, programmatic, and long-term commitments
of each party to meet the academic, social, emotional,
and mental health needs of veteran-connected students.
(c) Uses of Funds.--A local educational agency receiving a grant
under this section shall use such grant to carry out one or more of the
following:
(1) Support activities to address the academic, social,
emotional, and mental health needs of veteran-connected
students.
(2) Provide assistance to veteran-connected students to
complete college admission applications and financial aid
applications, including the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid described in section 483(a) of the Higher Education
Act (20 U.S.C. 1090) and to access veterans' education benefits
as defined under section 480(c)(2) of such Act (20 U.S.C.
1087vv(c)(2)) such individuals may be eligible to receive.
(3) Improve mental health services and supports for
veteran-connected students, including meeting the needs of such
individuals who have experienced adverse childhood experiences
or related trauma.
(4) Provide professional development for Family
Coordinators and for teachers, school leaders, specialized
instructional support personnel, liaisons to families of
veterans, and other staff employed by local educational
agencies on the unique challenges facing veteran-connected
students and families of veterans.
(5) Conduct outreach and communicate with families of
veterans to improve the involvement of veterans who are
caregivers in the academic, social, emotional, and mental
health needs of their children.
(6) Hire and retain a liaison to families of veterans to
provide supports to veteran-connected students and families of
veterans.
(7) Coordinate with Family Coordinators and support the
provision of services through the Family Support Program.
(d) Reporting Requirements.--
(1) Local reporting.--Not later than one year after a local
educational agency receives a grant under this section, and
annually thereafter, such agency shall submit to the Secretary
a report containing such information as the Secretary may
require, including--
(A) the number and percentage of veteran-connected
students served by the agency, disaggregated by
demographic data;
(B) information required under paragraph (1)(C)(ii)
of section 1111(h) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(h)) and
corresponding requirements under paragraph (2) of that
section for all veteran-connected students served by
the agency; and
(C) a description of the academic, social,
emotional, and mental health services provided to
veteran-connected students, including whether such
services were provided by the agency or through the
Family Support Program.
(2) Secretary reporting.--Not later than one year after
receiving a report described in paragraph (1), the Secretary,
in coordination with the Secretary of Education, shall--
(A) prepare and submit to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a
report that summarizes the report submitted under
paragraph (1); and
(B) make the report submitted under paragraph (1)
publicly available on an internet website of the
Department.
(e) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal or
State funds available to carry out activities described in this
section.
(f) Disaggregation of Data.--Disaggregation of data required under
this section shall not be required when the number of students
described in subsection (d)(1)(A) is insufficient to yield
statistically reliable information or the results would reveal
personally identifiable information about an individual student.
SEC. 6. OUTREACH ON AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES.
The Secretary shall conduct an outreach program to ensure veterans
who are enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department
established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United
States Code, employees of the Department, and potential State, local,
and Federal partners are informed of the Family Support Program and the
availability of Family Coordinators.
SEC. 7. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary shall include information regarding supportive
services available for members of the Armed Forces who are being
separated from active duty and their families, including mental health
and other services for children, in the transition assistance
curriculum offered by the Department.
SEC. 8. SURVEY.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five years, the
Secretary shall conduct a survey of disabled veterans and their
families to identify and better understand the needs of such disabled
veterans and their families.
(b) Content.--The survey required under subsection (a) shall
include questions with respect to--
(1) the types and quality of support disabled veterans
receive from the children of such disabled veterans; and
(2) the unmet needs of such children.
SEC. 9. NONDISCRIMINATION.
Programs or activities receiving funds under this Act may not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion,
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or age.
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such funds
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
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