I 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4513 

To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to State 

and local entities to carry out peer-to-peer mental health programs. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 9, 2016 

Mr. ZELDIN (for himself and Miss RICE of New York) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make 

grants to State and local entities to carry out peerto-peer mental health programs. 

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

3 SECTION 1. PFC JOSEPH P. DWYER VETERAN PEER SUP4 PORT PROGRAM. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

6 shall establish a grant program to be known as the ‘‘PFC 

7 Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program’’ under 

8 which the Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities 

9 for the purpose of establishing peer-to-peer mental health 

10 programs for veterans. 


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•HR 4513 IH

1 (b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—In this section, 

2 the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means any of the following enti3 ties that submit to the Secretary an application containing 

4 such information and assurances as the Secretary may re5 quire: 

6 (1) A nonprofit organization having historically 

7 served veterans’ mental health needs. 

8 (2) A congressionally chartered veteran service 

9 organization. 

10 (3) A State, local, or tribal veteran service 

11 agency, director, or commissioner. 

12 (c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The recipient of a grant 

13 under this section shall receive a grant in an amount that 

14 does not exceed $250,000. 

15 (d) USE OF FUNDS.—The recipient of a grant under 

16 this section shall use the grant funds to— 

17 (1) carry out a program that meets the stand18 ards developed under subsection (e); 

19 (2) hire veterans to serve as peer specialists to 

20 host group and individual meetings with veterans 

21 seeking nonclinical support; 

22 (3) provide mental health support to veterans 

23 24 hours each day, seven days each week; and 

24 (4) hire staff to support the program. 

25 (e) PROGRAM STANDARDS.— 


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1 (1) ADVISORY COMMISSION.—The Secretary 

2 shall establish an advisory committee for the pur3 pose of creating appropriate standards applicable to 

4 programs established using grants under this sec5 tion. 

6 (2) STANDARDS.—The standards developed 

7 under paragraph (1) shall include initial and contin8 ued training for veteran peer volunteers, administra9 tive staffing needs, and best practices for addressing 

10 the needs of each veteran served. 

11 (f) NONRETENTION OF RECORDS.—The Secretary 

12 may not require the recipient of a grant under this section 

13 to maintain records on veterans seeking support or to re14 port any personally identifying information directly or in15 directly to the Secretary about such veterans. 

16 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

17 authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 to carry out 

18 this section during the three-year period beginning on the 

19 date of the enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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