[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5904 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5904
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve services provided by
the Department of Veterans Affairs for veteran families, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 6, 2023
Ms. Perez (for herself and Mr. James) introduced the following bill
October 25, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the
Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, 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 2023''.
SEC. 2. APPOINTMENT OF FAMILY COORDINATORS TO MEDICAL CENTERS OF
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; ESTABLISHMENT OF FAMILY
SUPPORT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new sections
(and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
accordingly):
``Sec. 1709D. Appointment of family coordinators to medical centers
``(a) Appointment of Family Coordinators.--The Secretary shall
appoint not fewer than one family coordinator to each medical center of
the Department. Each family coordinator shall be responsible for
assessing the needs of families of eligible veterans located in the
geographic area served by each such medical center and connecting such
families with appropriate supportive services.
``(b) Qualifications.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), to
be eligible for an appointment under subsection (a), an individual
shall--
``(A) be a social worker licensed, registered, or certified
in accordance with the requirements of any State; and
``(B) have earned a graduate degree in social work or a
related field.
``(2) The Secretary may waive the qualification requirements
described in paragraph (1), as the Secretary determines appropriate.
``(c) Duties.--Each family coordinator appointed pursuant to
subsection (a) shall be responsible for--
``(1) assessing the needs of families of eligible veterans
located in the geographic area served by the medical center to
which such family coordinator is appointed using evidence-based
strategies;
``(2) building positive relationships with such families;
``(3) referring eligible veterans to local, State, and
Federal entities that support such families, as the family
coordinator determines appropriate;
``(4) developing and maintaining a list of--
``(A) supportive services offered by the medical
center to which such family coordinator is appointed;
and
``(B) supportive services offered at reduced or no
cost by non-Department facilities located in the
geographic area served by such medical center; and
``(5) developing and maintaining on a publicly available
Internet website of the Department a list of supportive
services available to eligible veterans located in such
geographic area who are enrolled in the patient enrollment
system under section 1705(a) of this title.
``(d) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach to ensure
that the following are informed of family coordinators at each medical
center of the Department:
``(1) Eligible veterans who are enrolled in such patient
enrollment system.
``(2) Employees of the Department.
``(3) State, local, and Federal entities to which a family
coordinator may refer an eligible veteran pursuant to
subsection (c)(3).
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `eligible veteran' means a disabled veteran
(as defined in section 4211 of this title) with a service-
connected disability rated at 70 percent or more.
``(2) The term `supportive services' has the meaning given
such term in section 1709E of this title.
``Sec. 1709E. Family Support Program
``(a) Establishment.--(1) There is established in the Department a
program to be known as the `Family Support Program' (in this section
referred to as the `Program') under which the Secretary shall furnish
supportive services to eligible veterans, eligible children, and family
members of eligible veterans.
``(2) To carry out the Program, the Secretary shall--
``(A) provide supportive services through medical centers
of the Department;
``(B) collaborate with relevant State, local, and Federal
entities to provide supportive services; and
``(C) engage in other activities in support of the Program,
as the Secretary determines appropriate.
``(3)(A) The Secretary may carry out the Program by entering into
contracts with or awarding grants to eligible entities to provide
supportive services to eligible veterans, eligible children, and family
members of eligible veterans.
``(B) The Secretary shall offer to any such eligible entity awarded
a contract or grant under subparagraph (A) training and technical
assistance regarding the planning, development, and provision of
supportive services.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to enter into a contract
with, or receive a grant provided by the Secretary under subsection
(a)(3)(A), an entity shall be a public or non-profit entity that is not
an entity of the Department.
``(c) Applications.--An eligible entity desiring a contract or
grant under such subsection shall submit to the Secretary an
application in such form and containing such information and assurances
as the Secretary determines appropriate, which shall include--
``(1) a description of each supportive service proposed to
be provided to eligible veterans, eligible children, and family
members of eligible veterans; and
``(2) evidence of a capacity to serve families of veterans
in a manner that is trauma-informed and culturally and
linguistically appropriate.
``(d) Oversight by Secretary.--As a condition of being awarded a
contract or grant under such subsection, an eligible entity shall agree
to permit the Secretary to conduct oversight regarding--
``(1) the use of funds provided under such contract or
grant; and
``(2) the quality of supportive services to be provided
pursuant to such contract or grant.
``(e) Public Notice.--The Secretary shall publish the requirements
for eligibility for a contract or grant under this section on a
publicly available Internet website of the Department.
``(f) Coordination With Other Programs of the Department.--The
Secretary shall share best practices with, and facilitate referrals of,
eligible veterans, eligible children, and family members of eligible
veterans, as appropriate, from the Program to other programs of the
Department, including the program described in section 1720G(b) of this
title.
``(g) Annual Report for Contract or Grant Recipients.--Any eligible
entity awarded a contract or grant under this section shall, not later
than one year after the date of the award of such contract or grant,
and annually thereafter during the period covered by such contract or
grant, submit to the Secretary a report that describes the supportive
services provided during the year covered by such report.
``(h) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach to ensure
that the following are informed of the supportive services available
under the Program:
``(1) Eligible veterans who are enrolled in the patient
enrollment system under section 1705(a) of this title.
``(2) Employees of the Department.
``(3) State, local, and Federal entities with which the
Secretary collaborates pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(B).
``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The terms `eligible child' means an individual who--
``(A) is a ward, child (including stepchild),
grandchild, or sibling (including stepsibling or
halfsibling) of an eligible veteran; and
``(B) is less than 18 years of age.
``(2) The term `eligible veteran' has the meaning given
such term in section 1709D of this title.
``(3) The term `supportive services' means services that
address social, emotional, mental health, career-readiness, or
other needs, including--
``(A) in the case of an eligible child--
``(i) peer-support programs;
``(ii) 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)) to which such eligible child
may be entitled; and
``(iii) after-school care and summer
learning opportunities;
``(B) in the case of an eligible veteran,
assistance transitioning from active duty in the Armed
Forces to veteran status;
``(C) 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.);
``(D) wellness services, including mental,
emotional, behavioral, and physical health and
nutritional counseling and assistance;
``(E) sports and recreation activities;
``(F) dependent care, including home and community-
based services;
``(G) resources for low-income families; and
``(H) any other services or activities the
Secretary considers appropriate to address such
needs.''.
(b) Reporting Requirements.--
(1) Report on potential additional veteran family needs.--
Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs commences the Family Support Program
established under section 1709E of title 38, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the potential need for additional
resources for family members of eligible veterans who are not
eligible children.
(2) Report on family support program.--Not later than one
year after such date, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives
and the Senate a report on the progress of such Family Support
Program that includes the following:
(A) The number of eligible veterans, eligible
children, and family members of eligible veterans who
received supportive services under such Family Support
Program.
(B) The demographic data of eligible veterans and
family members of eligible veterans, including--
(i) with respect to family members of
eligible veterans, the relationship to the
eligible veteran;
(ii) age;
(iii) race;
(iv) ethnicity;
(v) gender;
(vi) disability, where applicable; and
(vii) proficiency in the English language
and whether a language other than English is
spoken at home.
(C) A summary of the supportive services carried
out under such Family Support Program and the costs to
the Department of Veterans Affairs of such supportive
services.
(D) An assessment, measured by a survey of
participants in such Family Support Program, of whether
participation in such Family Support Program resulted
in positive outcomes for eligible veterans, eligible
children, and family members of eligible veterans.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry
out sections 1709D and 1709E of title 38, United States Code, as added
by subsection (a).
(d) Deadlines.--
(1) Family coordinator appointments.--The Secretary shall
make the appointments required under section 1709D of such
title, as added by such subsection, not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Date family support program fully operational.--The
Secretary shall ensure that the Family Support Program
established under section 1709E of such title, as added by such
subsection, is fully operational not later one year after such
date.
SEC. 3. SURVEY ON NEEDS OF DISABLED VETERANS AND FAMILIES OF DISABLED
VETERANS.
(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 families of
disabled veterans to identify and better understand the needs of such
disabled veterans and such families.
(b) Content of Survey.--Such survey shall include questions
regarding--
(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.
(c) Report on Survey.--Not later than 90 days after the date on
which the Secretary completes each such survey, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate and the Committees on Veterans' Affairs
of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report that includes
the findings of each such survey.
SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF INFORMATION REGARDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN
TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary shall include information regarding supportive
services available to 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 Program
of the Department of Defense under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10,
United States Code.
SEC. 5. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED.
Programs or activities receiving funds authorized to be
appropriated under section 2(c) of this Act may not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender,
disability status, or age.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term ``disabled veteran'' has the meaning given
such term in section 4211 of title 38, United States Code.
(2) The terms ``eligible veteran'' and ``eligible child''
have the meaning given such terms in sections 1709D and 1709E
of such title, respectively, as added by section 2(a).
(3) The term ``supportive services'' has the meaning given
such term in section 1709E of such title, as added by such
section.
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