```

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9924 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9924

To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish standard practices 
for a grant or pilot program administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
   Affairs through the Veterans Health Administration, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 4, 2024

 Mr. Landsman (for himself, Mr. Luttrell, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. Van Orden, 
Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Brownley, and Mr. Kennedy) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish standard practices 
for a grant or pilot program administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
   Affairs through the Veterans Health Administration, 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 ``What Works for Preventing Veteran 
Suicide Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARD PRACTICES FOR A GRANT OR PILOT 
              PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
              THROUGH THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Establishment.--Section 527 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The 
        Secretary,'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as paragraphs 
        (2) and (3), respectively; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection (b):
    ``(b) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations that establish 
standard practices that, unless otherwise prohibited by law, shall 
apply to a grant program or pilot program relating to suicide 
prevention or mental health carried out through the Veterans Health 
Administration. Such practices shall include the following:
            ``(1) The establishment of clear and measurable objectives.
            ``(2) The development of a methodology and plan to--
                    ``(A) determine information necessary to evaluate 
                the program;
                    ``(B) identify sources, methods, timing, and 
                frequency for collecting of such information;
                    ``(C) determine how such information will be 
                analyzed to evaluate the program's implementation and 
                performance and to identify lessons learned; and
                    ``(D) identify criteria or standards for informing 
                decisions about whether the program should be expanded, 
                extended, or made permanent.
            ``(3) The communication of program objectives, assessment 
        methodology, and evaluation plan with entities determined 
        relevant to the program by the Secretary--
                    ``(A) during the development of the program;
                    ``(B) at least 30 days prior to the beginning of 
                the program; and
                    ``(C) throughout the term of the program.
            ``(4) At the conclusion of the program, the performance of 
        an evaluation of the program--
                    ``(A) to validate lessons learned; and
                    ``(B) to assess the generalizability of the 
                program.
            ``(5) The sharing of program results and best practices 
        with entities determined relevant to the program by the 
        Secretary.''.
    (b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
prescribe regulations under section 527(b) of such title, as amended by 
subsection (a).
    (c) Applicability.--The standard practices prescribed in such 
regulations shall apply to a grant or pilot program without regard to 
when such program was established.
                                 <all>
```