[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 622 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 622
To improve services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for
veteran families, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 2, 2023
Mrs. Murray (for herself, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Reed, Mrs.
Shaheen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Kaine, and Ms. Murkowski)
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 2023''.
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) 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.
(4) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran'' means
a disabled veteran who has a service-connected disability rated
at 70 percent or more.
(5) Family coordinator.--The term ``Family Coordinator''
means an individual placed at a medical center of the
Department pursuant to section 3.
(6) Family support program.--The term ``Family Support
Program'' means the program established under section 4.
(7) Non-department provider.--The term ``non-Department
provider'' means a public or non-profit entity that is not an
entity of the Department.
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs.
(9) 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.
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.--
(A) In general.--To qualify to be a Family
Coordinator under subsection (a), an individual shall--
(i) be a social worker licensed,
registered, or certified in accordance with the
requirements of any State; and
(ii) have a graduate degree in social work
or a related field.
(B) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the
qualifications required by subparagraph (A) to permit
individuals in other professions to serve as Family
Coordinators.
(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 funding to non-Department providers pursuant to
subsection (c); and
(4) engage in any other activities the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(c) Funding to Non-Department Providers.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into contracts and
award grants to provide funding 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 to participate in
the Family Support Program.
(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 funds 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
participate in the Family Support Program notice of the award
of funds under this subsection to ensure such providers have
sufficient time to prepare to provide supportive services under
the Family Support Program.
(4) Authorized activities.--Funds provided under this
subsection shall be used to provide supportive services.
(5) Training.--For each non-Department provider selected by
the Secretary to participant in the Family Support Program, the
Secretary shall offer 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 funds
under the Family Support Program shall submit to the Secretary
a report describing the supportive services carried out with
such funds during the year covered by such report.
(2) Reports to congress.--
(A) Report on additional resources.--Not later than
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
potential need for additional resources for family
members of eligible veterans other than eligible
children.
(B) Report on progress.--
(i) 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.
(ii) Contents.--The report required by
clause (i) 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 family members,
including--
(aa) the relationship to
the eligible veteran;
(bb) age;
(cc) race;
(dd) ethnicity;
(ee) gender identity;
(ff) sexual orientation;
(gg) disability; and
(hh) 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. OUTREACH ON AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES.
The Secretary shall conduct an outreach program to ensure eligible
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 entities are informed of the Family Support Program
and the availability of Family Coordinators.
SEC. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. 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. 9. 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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