[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3077 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3077
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a counseling
program for certain survivor of veterans deceased as the result of
suicide.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 2, 2023
Mr. Van Drew introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
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A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a counseling
program for certain survivor of veterans deceased as the result of
suicide.
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 ``Green Star Families Act''.
SEC. 2. COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS AND CAREGIVERS OF
VETERANS DECEASED AS A RESULT OF SUICIDE.
(a) Counseling Program.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``Sec. 1720K. Counseling program for certain family members and
caregivers of veterans deceased as a result of suicide
``(a) Counseling Program.--(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall furnish, at no cost to the recipient, counseling
services to--
``(A) the next of kin of covered veterans; and
``(B) former volunteer caregivers of covered veterans.
``(2) The Secretary may provide counseling services under this
section only if the Secretary determines such counseling services are--
``(A) reasonably accessible to the an individual described
in paragraph (1); and
``(B) substantially equivalent or superior to similar
services furnished by the Secretary to an individual described
in paragraph (1).
``(3) To carry out subsection (a), the Secretary may enter into an
agreement with a Federal, State, or private entity. The Secretary may
provide fair compensation to such entity pursuant to such agreement.
``(b) Public Awareness.--In carrying out the program under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
``(1) publish information relating to the program on an
internet website of the Department; and
``(2) provide information relating to the program to any
individual described in paragraph (1).
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The terms `covered veteran' and `next of kin' has the
meaning given that term in section 904 of title 36.
``(2) The term `covered veterans service organization'
includes--
``(A) an organization recognized by the Secretary
for the representation of veterans under section 5902
of this title; and
``(B) an organization--
``(i) that is described in section
501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under
section 501(a) of such Code; and
``(ii) that carries out activities relating
to veterans and their assistance.
``(3) The term `family member' means, with respect to a
covered veteran, an individual--
``(A) who is a member of the family of the veteran,
including--
``(i) a parent or legal guardian;
``(ii) a spouse;
``(iii) a child;
``(iv) a step-family member; and
``(v) an extended family member; or
``(B) who, prior to the death of the covered
veteran, lived with the covered veteran.
``(4) The term `former volunteer caregiver' means, with
respect to a covered veteran, an individual--
``(A) who is at least 18 years of age; and
``(B) who, prior to the death of the covered
veteran, and in connection with a covered veterans
service organization, furnished the covered veteran
with counseling, social work, or other personal care
services--
``(i) without compensation to such
individual; and
``(ii) for a period of at least three
months.
``(5) The term `personal care services' has the meaning
given that term in section 1720G of this title.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
subchapter II of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting,
after the item relating to section 1720J, the following new item:
``1720K. Counseling program for certain family members and caregivers
of veterans deceased as a result of
suicide.''.
(c) Implementation Deadline.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall carry out section 1720K of such title, as added by subsection
(a), by not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
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