II 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 5083 

To establish within the Department of Veterans Affairs a pay for results 

pilot program to assist veterans, members of the Armed Forces on 

active duty, and their family members at risk of social isolation and 

loneliness, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 21, 2020 

Mr. YOUNG introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To establish within the Department of Veterans Affairs a 

pay for results pilot program to assist veterans, members 

of the Armed Forces on active duty, and their family 

members at risk of social isolation and loneliness, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Volunteers Improving 

5 Social Isolation and loneliness Together Act of 2020’’ or 

6 the ‘‘VISIT Act of 2020’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act: 

3 (1) ACTIVE DUTY.—The term ‘‘active duty’’ has 

4 the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 

5 38, United States Code. 

6 (2) ARMED FORCES.—The term ‘‘Armed 

7 Forces’’ has the meaning given that term in section 

8 101 of title 38, United States Code. 

9 (3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti10 ty’’ means an entity qualified to provide services 

11 under this Act, as determined by the Secretary. 

12 (4) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘eligible 

13 individual’’ means— 

14 (A) a veteran; 

15 (B) a member of the Armed Forces on ac16 tive duty; 

17 (C) a member of the National Guard; or 

18 (D) a family member of an individual de19 scribed in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C). 

20 (5) INTERVENTION.—The term ‘‘intervention’’ 

21 means a specific service delivered to achieve an im22 pact through a VISIT pay for results project under 

23 the pilot program. 

24 (6) PARTICIPANT.—The term ‘‘participant’’ 

25 means a staff member or volunteer of an eligible en26 tity that receives assistance under the pilot program 


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1 to carry out a VISIT pay for results project who 

2 provides a service to eligible individuals under the 

3 project. 

4 (7) PILOT PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘pilot pro5 gram’’ means the pilot program under section 4. 

6 (8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

7 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

8 (9) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the 

9 meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, 

10 United States Code. 

11 (10) VISIT PAY FOR RESULTS PROJECT.—The 

12 term ‘‘VISIT pay for results project’’ means a 

13 project under the pilot program that uses a Volun14 teers Improving Social Isolation and Loneliness To15 gether (VISIT) pay for results model. 

16 (11) VOLUNTEERS IMPROVING SOCIAL ISOLA17 TION AND LONELINESS TOGETHER (VISIT) PAY FOR

18 RESULTS MODEL.—The term ‘‘Volunteers Improving 

19 Social isolation and Loneliness Together (VISIT) 

20 pay for results model’’ means a method of financing 

21 national service programs in which— 

22 (A) except as provided in section 5, Fed23 eral funds are awarded to an eligible entity only 

24 if the eligible entity achieves certain outcomes 

25 agreed to by the entity and the Secretary, in 


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1 consultation with the Federal Interagency 

2 Council on Social Impact Partnerships and the 

3 Secretary of Defense; 

4 (B) the eligible entity coordinates with the 

5 Secretary and the Federal Interagency Council 

6 on Social Impact Partnerships and the Sec7 retary of Defense to identify an intervention ex8 pected to produce the outcome or outcomes; and 

9 (C) the eligible entity delivers the interven10 tion to the target population of the intervention. 

11 SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 

12 The purposes of this Act are as follows: 

13 (1) To mitigate the damage from the current 

14 social recession upon veterans, members of the 

15 Armed Forces, and their family members who are 

16 vulnerable to isolation and loneliness that has been 

17 found to impair physical and mental well-being, in18 cluding causing premature death. 

19 (2) To renew the spirit of community to aid 

20 veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and their 

21 family members at risk of social isolation and loneli22 ness, particularly those without robust social connec23 tions. 

24 (3) To facilitate the efforts of public-private 

25 partnerships to assist veterans, members of the 


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1 Armed Forces, and their family members at risk of 

2 social isolation and loneliness. 

3 SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM TO ASSIST VETERANS, MEMBERS 

4 OF THE ARMED FORCES, AND THEIR FAMILY 

5 MEMBERS WHO ARE AT RISK OF SOCIAL ISO6 LATION AND LONELINESS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out, in 

8 consultation with the Federal Interagency Council on So9 cial Impact Partnerships and the Secretary of Defense, 

10 a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability 

11 of assisting eligible individuals at risk of social isolation 

12 and loneliness through the funding of VISIT pay for re13 sults projects. 

14 (b) TIERS.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 

15 program in two tiers (in this Act referred to as ‘‘Tier 1’’ 

16 and ‘‘Tier 2’’). 

17 (c) PARTICIPATION OF VETERANS SERVICE ORGANI18 ZATIONS.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall encour20 age the participation of veterans service organiza21 tions in the pilot program, including participation 

22 that involves partnerships between veterans service 

23 organizations and other organizations. 

24 (2) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION DE25 FINED.—In this paragraph, the term ‘‘veterans servVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:36 Jan 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S5083.IS S5083

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1 ice organization’’ means an organization recognized 

2 by the Secretary for the representation of veterans 

3 under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code. 

4 (d) FUNDING PARTNERSHIPS.—An eligible entity 

5 that seeks to participate in the pilot program may partner 

6 with investors or philanthropic entities for purposes of 

7 funding a VISIT pay for results project. 

8 SEC. 5. TIER 1 OF PILOT PROGRAM. 

9 (a) NOTICE.—Not later than 270 days after the date 

10 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish 

11 in the Federal Register a request for proposals from eligi12 ble entities to conduct VISIT pay for results projects 

13 under Tier 1 of the pilot program. 

14 (b) QUALIFICATION OF VISIT PAY FOR RESULTS

15 PROJECT.—To qualify as a VISIT pay for results project 

16 under Tier 1 of the pilot program, a project must effec17 tively use participants to meet unmet social isolation or 

18 loneliness needs of eligible individuals through interven19 tions described in the application and agreed upon by the 

20 Secretary, in consultation with the Federal Interagency 

21 Council on Social Impact Partnerships and the Secretary 

22 of Defense, to improve one or more measurable perform23 ance indicators, including better mental or physical health 

24 outcomes that lower risk of mortality for the target popu25 lation of the project. 


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1 (c) APPLICATION REQUIRED.—The notice published 

2 under subsection (a) shall require an eligible entity seek3 ing to participate in Tier 1 of the pilot program to submit 

4 to the Secretary, not later than 180 days after the date 

5 of such publication, an application for a VISIT pay for 

6 results project that addresses each of the following: 

7 (1) A description of each proposed intervention 

8 under the project and anticipated outcomes of the 

9 intervention, including expected benefits to the tar10 get population of the intervention, the participants 

11 working on the project, and other individuals who 

12 may be affected by the invention. 

13 (2) A summary of the unmet need in the area 

14 where the intervention will be delivered or among the 

15 target population of the intervention. 

16 (3) The criteria used to determine the eligibility 

17 of an individual to be served by the project, includ18 ing how selected populations will be identified and 

19 referred to and enrolled in the project. 

20 (4) The anticipated number of participants 

21 needed to implement the project. 

22 (5) The criteria used to determine the eligibility 

23 of a participant for the project, including how the 

24 potential participants will be identified, recruited for 

25 the project, and trained for their roles in the project. 


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1 (6) A plan for implementing each intervention 

2 through the use of participants. 

3 (7) Rigorous evidence demonstrating that the 

4 intervention can be expected to produce the desired 

5 outcome or outcomes or, if the eligible entity lacks 

6 such rigorous evidence but demonstrates promising 

7 evidence that the intervention can be expected to 

8 produce the desired outcome or outcomes, a plan de9 scribed in subsection (d)(4)(B). 

10 (8) The target population that will be served by 

11 the project. 

12 (9) The projected cost to the eligible entity to 

13 carry out the project, and any costs to the Federal, 

14 State, or local government associated with the 

15 project. 

16 (10) Projected costs avoided by the Federal 

17 Government and State and local governments if the 

18 project is implemented and the outcomes are 

19 achieved as a result of the intervention. 

20 (11) A description of the expertise of the eligi21 ble entity, including a summary of the experience of 

22 the eligible entity in delivering the proposed inter23 vention or a similar intervention, or demonstrating 

24 the capacity of the eligible entity to deliver the interVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:36 Jan 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S5083.IS S5083

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1 vention to the number of eligible individuals the eli2 gible entity proposes to serve under the project. 

3 (12) The proposed payment terms, the method4 ology used to calculate outcome payments, the pay5 ment schedule, and performance thresholds. 

6 (13) The budget for the project. 

7 (14) Subject to subsection (g), the timeline for 

8 the project. 

9 (15) The design for the evaluation required by 

10 subsection (i), including the metrics that will be used 

11 in the evaluation to determine whether the outcomes 

12 have been achieved as a result of the intervention 

13 and how the metrics will be measured. 

14 (16) An explanation of how the metrics de15 scribed in paragraph (15) are independent, objective 

16 indicators of impact and are not subject to manipu17 lation by the eligible entity or any investor. 

18 (17) An explanation of the independence of the 

19 evaluator who will conduct the evaluation required 

20 by subsection (i) from the other entities involved in 

21 the project and the experience of the evaluator in 

22 conducting rigorous evaluations of program effective23 ness including, where available, well-implemented 

24 randomized controlled trials on the intervention or 

25 similar interventions. 


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1 (18) An explanation of how any potential pay2 ment disputes related to the outcomes of the evalua3 tion will be managed. 

4 (d) AGREEMENTS ON PARTICIPATION IN PILOT PRO5 GRAM.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

7 the deadline for applications under subsection (c) 

8 has expired, the Secretary, in consultation with the 

9 Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Part10 nerships and the Secretary of Defense, shall enter 

11 into an agreement with not fewer than eight eligible 

12 entities to participate in Tier 1 of the pilot program. 

13 (2) FEWER APPLICANTS.— 

14 (A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding para15 graph (1), if the Secretary determines that 

16 fewer than eight eligible entities meet the re17 quirements for participation in Tier 1 of the 

18 pilot program, the Secretary, in consultation 

19 with the Federal Interagency Council on Social 

20 Impact Partnerships and the Secretary of De21 fense, may enter into an agreement with fewer 

22 than eight eligible entities to participate in Tier 

23 1 of the pilot program. 

24 (B) INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF APPLI25 CANTS.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the 


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1 Secretary determines that an insufficient num2 ber of eligible entities meet the requirements for 

3 participation in Tier 1 of the pilot program, the 

4 Secretary may— 

5 (i)(I) publish in the Federal Register 

6 a second request for proposals from eligible 

7 entities to conduct VISIT pay for results 

8 projects under Tier 1 of the pilot program; 

9 and 

10 (II) include in such request applica11 tion requirements that are broader than 

12 the requirements under subsection (c); or 

13 (ii) carry out Tier 2 of the pilot pro14 gram, in accordance with section 6. 

15 (3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In determining whether 

16 to enter into an agreement with an eligible entity 

17 under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 

18 (A) seek to ensure geographic diversity 

19 among selected entities, including by selecting 

20 not fewer than one eligible entity that plans to 

21 serve a rural community and not fewer than 

22 one eligible entity that plans to serve an urban 

23 community; and 

24 (B) consider— 


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1 (i) the anticipated use of participants, 

2 and whether the eligible entity plans to use 

3 participants who come from a high-risk 

4 background; 

5 (ii) the value to the Federal Govern6 ment of the outcomes expected to be 

7 achieved by the eligible entity under the 

8 pilot program, which the Secretary shall 

9 define to include— 

10 (I) measurable costs avoided; and 

11 (II) other outcomes of intrinsic 

12 value such as the health, well-being, 

13 and prosperity of eligible individuals; 

14 (iii) the likelihood, based on evidence 

15 provided in the application and other evi16 dence, that the eligible entity will achieve 

17 those outcomes, balanced with the need to 

18 develop more rigorous evidence if the Sec19 retary decides such evidence is necessary; 

20 (iv) the value to State and local gov21 ernments if those outcomes are achieved; 

22 and 

23 (v) the expected quality of the evalua24 tion that would be conducted with respect 


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1 to the VISIT pay for results project under 

2 subsection (i). 

3 (4) REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING INTO

4 AGREEMENTS.— 

5 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may 

6 enter into an agreement with an eligible entity 

7 under paragraph (1) if the Secretary deter8 mines that each of the following requirements 

9 are met: 

10 (i) Except as provided in subsection 

11 (f), the eligible entity agrees to achieve one 

12 or more outcomes as a result of the 

13 project, as specified in the agreement and 

14 validated by independent evaluation, in 

15 order to receive payment. Such outcomes 

16 shall be significant metrics closely cor17 related with intervention under the project. 

18 (ii) Except as provided in subsection 

19 (f), payment from the Federal Government 

20 to the eligible entity for each specified out21 come achieved as a result of the project 

22 will be less than or equal to the value of 

23 the outcome to the Federal Government 

24 over a period not to exceed ten years, as 


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1 determined by the Secretary, in consulta2 tion with the eligible entity. 

3 (iii) The eligible entity meets the re4 quirement under subparagraph (B). 

5 (iv) The project will begin not later 

6 than one year after the eligible entity has 

7 entered into the agreement with the Sec8 retary. 

9 (v) The duration of the project will 

10 not exceed five years. 

11 (vi) The eligible entity has shown that 

12 it has experience delivering the interven13 tion used in the project, a similar interven14 tion, or has otherwise demonstrated the ca15 pability necessary to deliver the interven16 tion. 

17 (vii) The project will use participants 

18 to implement the project. 

19 (viii) The eligible entity has made 

20 such other assurances as the Secretary 

21 may require. 

22 (B) PLAN FOR EVALUATION.—The require23 ment described in this subparagraph is that the 

24 eligible entity has demonstrated, through the 


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1 application submitted under subsection (c), that 

2 there is— 

3 (i) a clear and feasible plan to evalu4 ate the VISIT pay for results project with 

5 a rigorous experimental or quasi-experi6 mental study or other rigorous method7 ology that can establish a clear causal con8 nection between the intervention and per9 formance indicators; and 

10 (ii) a strong circumstantial case, 

11 based on existing measurable outcomes as12 sociated with the project, that the study or 

13 methodology is likely to establish such a 

14 connection. 

15 (e) RAISING FUNDS.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—To the extent that the eligi17 ble entity does not have experience raising private or 

18 philanthropic capital to fund social service invest19 ments or is unable to secure such capital prior to 

20 submittal of the application under subsection (c), the 

21 Secretary may assist the entity in attaining such 

22 funding. 

23 (2) ENSURING DIVERSITY OF ELIGIBLE ENTI24 TIES.—The Secretary— 


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1 (A) shall take all practicable steps to en2 sure a pool of eligible entities enrolled in the 

3 pilot program that reflects the diversity of the 

4 population of eligible individuals; and 

5 (B) shall not permit historical lack of ac6 cess to private or philanthropic capital by any 

7 eligible entity to limit inclusion of the eligible 

8 entity in the pilot program. 

9 (f) ABILITY TO FINANCE PROJECT.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

11 after the date on which an eligible entity enters into 

12 an agreement with the Secretary under subsection 

13 (d) for a VISIT pay for results project under Tier 

14 1 of the pilot program, the entity shall provide to 

15 the Secretary a plan demonstrating that the entity— 

16 (A) has the capability to fund at least 50 

17 percent of the up-front costs of the project, 

18 with or without funds from partner investors or 

19 philanthropic entities; and 

20 (B) will have the funds described in sub21 paragraph (A) available and reserved for the 

22 project not later than one year after the date of 

23 such agreement. 

24 (2) TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.—The Sec25 retary may terminate an agreement entered into 


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1 under subsection (d) with an eligible entity for a 

2 VISIT pay for results project under Tier 1 of the 

3 pilot program if— 

4 (A) the Secretary determines that the eligi5 ble entity is not likely to have the capability to 

6 fund at least 50 percent of the up-front costs 

7 of the project; or 

8 (B) the eligible entity does not have the 

9 funds available and reserved to fund at least 50 

10 percent of the up-front costs of the project. 

11 (g) DURATION.—Each VISIT pay for results project 

12 conducted under Tier 1 of the pilot program shall be lim13 ited to a duration of not more than five years. 

14 (h) PAYMENT.— 

15 (1) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—The Secretary 

16 shall have discretion in determining the amount of 

17 funds awarded for each VISIT pay for results 

18 project under Tier 1 of the pilot program, except 

19 that such amount shall be specified as part of the 

20 agreement with each eligible entity under subsection 

21 (d). 

22 (2) UP-FRONT COSTS.—An eligible entity with 

23 which the Secretary enters into an agreement under 

24 subsection (d) for a VISIT pay for results project 

25 under Tier 1 of the pilot program shall pay for at 


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1 least 50 percent of the entire up-front costs of the 

2 project. 

3 (3) OUTCOME PAYMENT.— 

4 (A) IN GENERAL.—After completion of a 

5 VISIT pay for results project under the pilot 

6 program, the Secretary shall pay the remaining 

7 obligation of the Secretary under the agreement 

8 entered into between the Secretary and the eli9 gible entity only if the independent evaluator 

10 described in subsection (i) determines that the 

11 project has— 

12 (i) met the requirements specified in 

13 the agreement with respect to such project; 

14 and 

15 (ii) has achieved an outcome as a re16 sult of the intervention used in such 

17 project, as specified in the agreement and 

18 validated by the independent evaluator. 

19 (B) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding sub20 paragraph (A), the Secretary may pay up to 50 

21 percent of costs of a VISIT pay for results 

22 project under Tier 1 of the pilot program— 

23 (i) before completion of the evaluation 

24 conducted by the independent evaluator 

25 under subsection (i); and 


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1 (ii) before the measurements of value 

2 described in subsection (d)(4)(A)(ii) are 

3 made. 

4 (i) EVALUATIONS.— 

5 (1) AGREEMENTS.— 

6 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

7 enter into an agreement with each eligible enti8 ty carrying out a VISIT pay for results project 

9 under the pilot program to pay for all or part 

10 of an independent evaluation to determine 

11 whether the project has achieved a specific out12 come in order for the entity to receive outcome 

13 payments under subsection (h)(3). 

14 (B) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary 

15 may waive the requirement under subparagraph 

16 (A) for up to 20 percent of all VISIT pay for 

17 results projects under Tier 1 of the pilot pro18 gram if the Secretary determines that such a 

19 waiver is necessary for ensuring robust diversity 

20 of project geography and focus. 

21 (2) EVALUATOR QUALIFICATIONS.—The Sec22 retary may not enter into an agreement with an eli23 gible entity under paragraph (1) unless the Sec24 retary determines that— 


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1 (A) the evaluator is independent of the 

2 other parties to the agreement; and 

3 (B) the evaluator has demonstrated sub4 stantial experience in conducting rigorous eval5 uations of program effectiveness, including, as 

6 available and appropriate, well-implemented 

7 randomized controlled trials on the intervention 

8 used in the VISIT pay for results project cov9 ered by the agreement or a similar intervention. 

10 (3) METHODOLOGIES TO BE USED.— 

11 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara12 graph (B), the evaluation used to determine 

13 whether an eligible entity will receive outcome 

14 payments under subsection (h)(3) shall use ex15 perimental designs using random assignment, 

16 or other reliable, evidence-based research meth17 odologies that allow for the strongest possible 

18 causal inferences when random assignment is 

19 not feasible. 

20 (B) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive 

21 the requirement under subparagraph (A) if— 

22 (i) multiple evaluations or one large, 

23 multi-site evaluation have been conducted 

24 with respect to an intervention used in a 

25 VISIT pay for results project; and 


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1 (ii) such evaluations or evaluation es2 tablished substantial and statistically sig3 nificant effects of the intervention. 

4 (4) PROGRESS REPORTS.— 

5 (A) SUBMITTAL OF REPORTS.—An eligible 

6 entity shall ensure that the independent eval7 uator conducting the evaluation under this sub8 section with respect to a VISIT pay for results 

9 project conducted by the entity under the pilot 

10 program— 

11 (i) not later than two years after the 

12 project has been approved by the Sec13 retary, and annually thereafter until the 

14 project is concluded, submits to the Sec15 retary and the Federal Interagency Council 

16 on Social Impact Partnerships a written 

17 report summarizing the progress that has 

18 been made in achieving each outcome spec19 ified in the agreement under subsection 

20 (d); and 

21 (ii) before the scheduled time of each 

22 payment under subsection (h)(3) to be 

23 made to the eligible entity with respect to 

24 such project, submits to the Secretary and 

25 the Federal Interagency Council on Social 


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1 Impact Partnerships a written report that 

2 includes— 

3 (I) the results of the evaluation 

4 conducted to determine whether a 

5 payment should be made; and 

6 (II) information on— 

7 (aa) the unique factors that 

8 contributed to achieving or fail9 ing to achieve the outcome; 

10 (bb) the challenges faced in 

11 attempting to achieve the out12 come; and 

13 (cc) the improved future de14 livery of the intervention used in 

15 the project or a similar interven16 tion. 

17 (B) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not 

18 later than 30 days after receipt of the written 

19 report under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Sec20 retary shall transmit the report to Congress. 

21 (5) FINAL REPORT.— 

22 (A) SUBMITTAL OF REPORT.—An eligible 

23 entity shall ensure that the independent eval24 uator conducting the evaluation under this sub25 section with respect to a VISIT pay for results 


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1 project conducted by the entity under the pilot 

2 program, not later than 180 days after the 

3 VISIT pay for results project is completed— 

4 (i) evaluates the effects of the activi5 ties undertaken pursuant to the agreement 

6 under subsection (d) with regard to each 

7 outcome specified in the agreement; and 

8 (ii) submits to the President a written 

9 report that includes— 

10 (I) the results of the evaluation 

11 and the conclusion of the evaluator as 

12 to whether the eligible entity has ful13 filled each obligation of the agree14 ment; and 

15 (II) information on— 

16 (aa) the unique factors that 

17 contributed to the success or fail18 ure of the project; 

19 (bb) the challenges faced in 

20 attempting to achieve the out21 come; and 

22 (cc) the improved future de23 livery of the intervention used in 

24 the project or a similar interven25 tion. 


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1 (B) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not 

2 later than 30 days after receipt of the written 

3 report under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Sec4 retary shall transmit the report to Congress. 

5 SEC. 6. TIER 2 OF PILOT PROGRAM. 

6 (a) NOTICE.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may carry out 

8 Tier 2 of the pilot program, including by publishing 

9 in the Federal Register a request for proposals from 

10 eligible entities to conduct VISIT pay for results 

11 projects under Tier 2 of the pilot program, if the 

12 Secretary certifies that a reasonable number of eligi13 ble entities could provide rigorous evidence dem14 onstrating that the interventions of such projects 

15 can be expected to produce desired outcomes. 

16 (2) CONSIDERATIONS FOR CERTIFICATION.—In 

17 making a certification under paragraph (1), the Sec18 retary shall consider— 

19 (A) an analysis of the number of eligible 

20 entities that could provide rigorous evidence de21 scribed such paragraph; and 

22 (B) whether an analysis of the final results 

23 of VISIT pay for results projects under Tier 1 

24 of the pilot program is necessary to inform such 

25 certification. 


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1 (b) QUALIFICATION FOR VISIT PAY FOR RESULTS

2 PROJECT.—Section 5(b) shall apply with respect to Tier 

3 2 of the pilot program. 

4 (c) APPLICATION REQUIRED.—The notice published 

5 under subsection (a) shall require an eligible entity seek6 ing to participate in Tier 2 of the pilot program to submit 

7 to the Secretary, not later than 180 days after the date 

8 of such publication, an application for a VISIT pay for 

9 results project under Tier 2 of the pilot program that ad10 dresses each element under section 5(c), except that, with 

11 respect to paragraph (7) of such section, an application 

12 shall include rigorous evidence demonstrating that the 

13 intervention of the project can be expected to produce the 

14 desired outcome or outcomes. 

15 (d) AGREEMENTS ON PARTICIPATION IN PILOT PRO16 GRAM.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

18 the deadline for applications under subsection (c) 

19 has expired, the Secretary, in consultation with the 

20 Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Part21 nerships and the Secretary of Defense, shall enter 

22 into an agreement with one or more eligible entities 

23 to participate in Tier 2 of the pilot program. 

24 (2) NUMBER.—The Secretary is encouraged to 

25 enter into agreements under paragraph (1) with a 


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1 number of eligible entities that is at least half of the 

2 number of eligible entities that participated under 

3 Tier 1 of the pilot program. 

4 (3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In determining whether 

5 to enter into an agreement with an eligible entity 

6 under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 

7 (A) seek to ensure geographic diversity 

8 among selected entities as described in subpara9 graph (A) of section 5(d)(3); and 

10 (B) consider the elements under subpara11 graph (B) of such section. 

12 (4) REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING INTO

13 AGREEMENTS.— 

14 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may 

15 enter into an agreement with an eligible entity 

16 under paragraph (1) if the Secretary deter17 mines that each of the following requirements 

18 are met: 

19 (i) The eligible entity agrees to 

20 achieve one or more outcomes as a result 

21 of the project, as specified in the agree22 ment and validated by independent evalua23 tion, in order to receive payment. Such 

24 outcomes shall be significant metrics closeVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:36 Jan 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S5083.IS S5083

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1 ly correlated with intervention under the 

2 project. 

3 (ii) Payment from the Federal Gov4 ernment to the eligible entity for each 

5 specified outcome achieved as a result of 

6 the project will be less than or equal to the 

7 value of the outcome to the Federal Gov8 ernment over a period not to exceed ten 

9 years, as determined by the Secretary, in 

10 consultation with the eligible entity. 

11 (iii) Based on prior rigorous experi12 mental evaluations or rigorous quasi-exper13 imental studies, the project can be ex14 pected to achieve each outcome specified in 

15 the agreement. 

16 (iv) The project will begin not later 

17 than one year after the eligible entity has 

18 entered into the agreement with the Sec19 retary. 

20 (v) The duration of the project will 

21 not exceed seven years. 

22 (vi) The eligible entity has shown that 

23 it has experience delivering the interven24 tion used in the project, a similar interven25 tion, or has otherwise demonstrated the caVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:36 Jan 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S5083.IS S5083

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1 pability necessary to deliver the interven2 tion. 

3 (vii) The project will use participants 

4 to implement the project. 

5 (viii) The eligible entity has made 

6 such other assurances as the Secretary 

7 may require. 

8 (e) RAISING FUNDS.—Section 5(e) shall apply with 

9 respect to Tier 2 of the pilot program. 

10 (f) ABILITY TO FINANCE PROJECT.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

12 after the date on which an eligible entity enters into 

13 an agreement with the Secretary under subsection 

14 (a) for a VISIT pay for results project under Tier 

15 2 of the pilot program, the entity shall provide to 

16 the Secretary a plan demonstrating that the entity— 

17 (A) has the capability to fully fund the up18 front costs of the project, with or without funds 

19 from partner investors or philanthropic entities; 

20 and 

21 (B) will have the funds described in sub22 paragraph (A) available and reserved for the 

23 project not later than one year after the date of 

24 such agreement. 


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1 (2) TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.—The Sec2 retary may terminate an agreement entered into 

3 under subsection (a) with an eligible entity for a 

4 VISIT pay for results project under Tier 2 of the 

5 pilot program if— 

6 (A) the Secretary determines that the eligi7 ble entity is not likely to have the capability to 

8 fully fund the up-front costs of the project; or 

9 (B) the eligible entity does not have the 

10 funds available and reserved to fully fund the 

11 up-front costs of the project. 

12 (g) DURATION.—Each VISIT pay for results project 

13 conducted under Tier 2 of the pilot program shall be lim14 ited to a duration of not more than seven years. 

15 (h) PAYMENT.— 

16 (1) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—Section 5(h)(1) 

17 shall apply with respect to Tier 2 of the pilot pro18 gram. 

19 (2) UP-FRONT COSTS.—An eligible entity with 

20 which the Secretary enters into an agreement under 

21 subsection (d) for a VISIT pay for results project 

22 under Tier 2 of the pilot program shall pay the en23 tire up-front costs of the project. 

24 (3) OUTCOME PAYMENTS.—Subparagraph (A) 

25 of section 5(h)(3) shall apply with respect to Tier 2 


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1 of the pilot program, except that the exception under 

2 subparagraph (B) of such section shall not apply 

3 with respect Tier 2 of the pilot program. 

4 (i) EVALUATION.—Section 5(i) shall apply with re5 spect to Tier 2 of the pilot program, except that the waiver 

6 authority under paragraph (1)(B) of such section shall not 

7 apply with respect to Tier 2 of the pilot program. 

8 SEC. 7. TASK FORCE. 

9 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 

10 a task force to support the pilot program through feedback 

11 and engagement with relevant entities. 

12 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The task force established 

14 under subsection (a) shall be composed of members 

15 selected by the Secretary from among experts de16 scribed in paragraph (2) who have some experi17 ence— 

18 (A) working with veterans and family 

19 members of veterans; or 

20 (B) serving in the Armed Forces. 

21 (2) EXPERTS DESCRIBED.—The experts de22 scribed in this paragraph are individuals with exper23 tise in— 

24 (A) the social impact partnership model 

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1 rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1397n et seq.), or similar 

2 pay for results model; 

3 (B) evaluation methodologies; 

4 (C) relevant interventions and support 

5 available to eligible individuals; or 

6 (D) health effects associated with social 

7 isolation and loneliness. 

8 (c) DUTIES.—The task force established under sub9 section (a) shall— 

10 (1) proactively offer feedback, advice, and tech11 nical assistance to State and local governments and 

12 other entities seeking to participate in the pilot pro13 gram; and 

14 (2) work to proactively engage such govern15 ments and entities with the goal of ensuring that 

16 many strong proposals for such program are sub17 mitted. 

18 (d) INDEPENDENT OPERATION.—An employee of the 

19 Department of Veterans Affairs may not simultaneously 

20 serve on the Task Force and have responsibilities for se21 lecting eligible entities for participation in the pilot pro22 gram. 

23 SEC. 8. FUNDING. 

24 (a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

25 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 


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1 out this Act $50,000,000, to remain available for expendi2 ture until 15 years after the date of the enactment of this 

3 Act. 

4 (b) PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CRED5 IT ENHANCEMENTS.—No amount appropriated to carry 

6 out this Act may be used to provide any insurance, guar7 antee, or other credit enhancement to an eligible entity 

8 under which a Federal payment would be made to an eligi9 ble entity as the result of such entity failing to achieve 

10 an outcome specified in an agreement under the pilot pro11 gram. 

12 (c) LIMITATION ON COST OF EVALUATIONS.—Of the 

13 amounts appropriated to carry out this Act in any fiscal 

14 year, the Secretary may not obligate more than 15 percent 

15 to evaluate under sections 5(i) and 6(i) the implementa16 tion and outcomes of VISIT pay for results projects under 

17 the pilot program. 

18 (d) TASK FORCE.—In any fiscal year, the Secretary 

19 may use not more than 5 percent of the amounts appro20 priated or otherwise made available to carry out this Act 

21 for the task force under section 7. 

22 (e) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—In any fiscal year, 

23 the Secretary may use not more than 5 percent of the 


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1 amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to 

2 carry out this Act for administrative expenses. 

Æ 


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