A bill to require a pilot program on the facilitation of the transition of members of the Armed Forces to receipt of veterans health care benefits upon completion of military service, and for other purposes.

Summary: Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a five-year pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of awarding grants to eligible entities to assist members of the Armed Forces, particularly those with serious wounds, injuries, or mental disorders, women members, and members of the National Guard and reserves, in applying for and receiving health care benefits and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and otherwise after completion of military service, in order to ensure that such members receive a continuity of care and assistance in and after the transition from military service to civilian life.

Requires at least one location of the pilot program to be in the vicinity of: (1) a military medical facility that treats members who are seriously wounded or injured in Afghanistan or Iraq; (2) a VA medical center located in a rural area; and (3) a VA medical center located in an urban area.

SECTION 1. PILOT PROGRAM ON FACILITATION OF TRANSITION OF MEMBERS OF 
              THE ARMED FORCES TO RECEIPT OF VETERANS HEALTH CARE 
              BENEFITS AFTER COMPLETION OF MILITARY SERVICE.

    (a) Program Required.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and 
        advisability of utilizing eligible entities to assist members 
        of the Armed Forces, particularly members described in 
        paragraph (2), in applying for and receiving health care 
        benefits and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        and otherwise after completion of military service in order to 
        ensure that such members receive a continuity of care and 
        assistance in and after the transition from military service to 
        civilian life.
            (2) Target populations.--The pilot program shall focus on 
        providing assistance to all members of the Armed Forces, with 
        particular emphasis on the following members:
                    (A) Members with serious wounds or injuries.
                    (B) Members with mental disorders.
                    (C) Women members.
                    (D) Members of the National Guard and the Reserves.
            (3) Veteran navigator.--Eligible entities shall provide 
        assistance under the pilot program through qualified 
        individuals who provide such assistance on an individualized 
        basis to members of the Armed Forces described in paragraph (1) 
        as they transition from military service to civilian life and 
        during the commencement of their receipt of health care 
        benefits and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        and otherwise. An individual providing such assistance may be 
        referred to as a ``veteran navigator''.
            (4) Consultation.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        carry out the pilot program in consultation with the Secretary 
        of Defense.
    (b) Duration of Program.--The pilot program shall be carried out 
during the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
    (c) Program Locations.--
            (1) In general.--The pilot program shall be carried out at 
        locations selected by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 
        purposes of the pilot program. Of the locations so selected--
                    (A) at least one shall be in the vicinity of a 
                military medical treatment facility (MTF) that treats 
                members of the Armed Forces who are seriously wounded 
                or injured in Afghanistan or Iraq;
                    (B) at least one shall be in the vicinity of a 
                Department of Veterans Affairs medical center located 
                in a rural area; and
                    (C) at least one shall be in the vicinity of a 
                Department of Veterans Affairs medical center located 
                in an urban area.
            (2) Additional locations.--Any locations for the pilot 
        program that are in addition to the locations selected under 
        paragraph (1) shall be selected by the Secretary in 
        consultation with the grant application evaluation panel 
        appointed under subsection (f)(3).
    (d) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        carry out the pilot program through the award of grants to 
        eligible entities for the provision of assistance to members of 
        the Armed Forces as described in subsection (a).
            (2) Duration.--The duration of any grant awarded under the 
        pilot program may not exceed three years. However, any such 
        grant may be renewed for a period not to exceed one year.
    (e) Eligible Entities.--For purposes of this subsection, an 
eligible entity is any entity or organization that--
            (1) is independent of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        and the Department of Defense; and
            (2) has or can acquire the capacity, including appropriate 
        personnel, to provide assistance under the pilot program as 
        described in subsection (a).
    (f) Selection of Grant Recipients.--
            (1) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under 
        the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs an application therefor in such form and in such manner 
        as the Secretary considers appropriate.
            (2) Elements.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include the following:
                    (A) A description of the population of members of 
                the Armed Forces to be provided assistance.
                    (B) A description of the outreach to be conducted 
                by the eligible entity concerned to notify members of 
                the Armed Forces of the availability of such 
                assistance.
                    (C) If the population of veterans described in 
                subparagraph (A) consists of members of the Armed 
                Forces described in subsection (a)(2), the particular 
                actions to be taken to provide such assistance to such 
                members of the Armed Forces.
            (3) Evaluation.--
                    (A) In general.--Each application submitted under 
                paragraph (1) shall be evaluated by a panel appointed 
                by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program.
                    (B) Membership of panel.--Members of the panel 
                shall be appointed from among individuals as follows:
                            (i) Officers and employees of the 
                        Department of Veterans Affairs.
                            (ii) With the approval of the Secretary of 
                        Defense, officers and employees of the 
                        Department of Defense.
                            (iii) Representatives of veterans service 
                        organizations.
                            (iv) Representatives of organizations that 
                        provide services to members of the Armed 
                        Forces.
                    (C) Recommendation.--Upon completion of the 
                evaluation of an application under this subsection, the 
                panel shall recommend to the Secretary whether or not 
                to approve the application.
                    (D) Recusal.--No member of the panel may evaluate 
                an application that is submitted by an entity with 
                which such member is affiliated.
            (4) Approval.--The Secretary shall approve or disapprove 
        each application submitted under paragraph (1). In determining 
        whether to approve or disapprove an application, the Secretary 
        shall take into account the recommendation on such application 
        by the panel appointed by the Secretary under paragraph (3).
    (g) Use of Grant Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant 
        under this section shall use the grant to recruit, assign, 
        train, and employ individuals to provide assistance on an 
        individualized basis to members of the Armed Forces, 
        particularly members described in subsection (a)(2), as they 
        transition from military service to civilian life and during 
        the commencement of their receipt of health care benefits and 
        services from the Department of Veterans Affairs and otherwise.
            (2) Qualifications.--Any organization providing assistance 
        under the pilot program shall employ individuals who 
        collectively--
                    (A) have an understanding of the unique health care 
                needs of members of the Armed Forces as they transition 
                from military service to civilian life;
                    (B) have an understanding of the military medical 
                treatment system of the Department of Defense; and
                    (C) have an understanding of eligibility for 
                benefits and services, mechanisms for enrollment or 
                participation, and receipt of benefits and services in 
                and through various systems and programs of health care 
                benefits and services for veterans, including--
                            (i) the health care system of the 
                        Department of Veterans Affairs; and
                            (ii) other health care systems and 
                        programs, including health care systems and 
                        programs of other departments and agencies of 
                        the Federal Government, State and local 
                        governments, and other public and private 
                        entities.
            (3) Scope of assistance.--In providing assistance to a 
        member of the Armed Forces under the pilot program, an 
        individual shall--
                    (A) assist the member in identifying the unique 
                health care needs of the member (including mental 
                health care);
                    (B) assist the member in enrolling in the health 
                care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs after 
                separation from military service;
                    (C) assist the member in identifying and applying 
                for any other health care benefits or services to which 
                the member may be entitled after military service; and
                    (D) assist the member in obtaining the timely 
                commencement of health care benefits and services from 
                the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the timely 
                commencement of other veterans health care benefits and 
                services, so that the member receives a continuity of 
                health care and assistance in and after the transition 
                from military service to civilian life.
            (4) Coordination.--In providing assistance to members of 
        the Armed Forces under the pilot programs, individuals 
        providing such assistance shall coordinate closely with 
        appropriate personnel of the Department of Defense and the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs in order to--
                    (A) develop relationships (including information 
                sharing) that enhance the effectiveness of such 
                assistance;
                    (B) eliminate overlap or duplication of effort; and
                    (C) otherwise facilitate a continuity of care and 
                assistance for such members in and after the transition 
                from military service to civilian life.
            (5) Training.--An eligible entity awarded a grant under the 
        pilot program may use grant funds for the provision of training 
        to individuals who provide assistance under the pilot program 
        on matters covered by the pilot program.
            (6) Reports.--Each eligible entity awarded a grant under 
        the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary, with such 
        frequency as the Secretary shall specify, reports on the 
        activities undertaken under the pilot program. Each report of 
        an eligible entity shall include--
                    (A) a description of the activities undertaken by 
                such eligible entity during the period covered by such 
                report; and
                    (B) an assessment of the effectiveness of such 
                activities in ensuring that members of the Armed Forces 
                receive a continuity of care and assistance in and 
                after the transition from military service to civilian 
                life.
    (h) Duplication of Services.--The Secretary may not award a grant 
under subsection (d) to an eligible entity that is receiving federal 
funds for activities described in paragraphs (1) and (3) of subsection 
(g) on the date on which the eligible entity submits an application 
subsection (f)(1) unless the Secretary determines that the eligible 
entity will use amounts received under the grant to expand services or 
provide new services to individuals who would not otherwise be served.
    (i) Report on Program.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than six months after the 
        completion of the pilot program, the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs shall submit to Congress report on the pilot program.
            (2) Elements.--The report shall include the following:
                    (A) A description of the activities undertaken 
                under the pilot program.
                    (B) An assessment of the effectiveness of such 
                activities in ensuring that members of the Armed Forces 
                receive a continuity of care and assistance in and 
                after the transition from military service to civilian 
                life.
                    (C) Such recommendations for legislative or 
                administrative action, including action to extend, 
                expand, or make permanent the pilot program, as the 
                Secretary considers appropriate in light of the pilot 
                program.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated for 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out this section, 
        amounts as follows:
                    (A) For fiscal year 2008, $2,000,000.
                    (B) For fiscal year 2009, $5,000,000.
                    (C) For fiscal year 2010, $8,000,000.
                    (D) For fiscal year 2011, $6,500,000.
                    (E) For fiscal year 2012, $3,500,000.
            (2) Availability.--Any amount authorized to be appropriated 
        by paragraph (1) shall remain available for obligation through 
        the end of fiscal year 2012.