I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 897 

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 6, 2017 

Mr. ZELDIN (for himself, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. SUOZZI, 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. P.F.C. JOSEPH P. DWYER PEER SUPPORT PRO4 GRAM. 

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

6 shall establish a grant program to be known as the 

7 ‘‘P.F.C. Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program’’ under 

8 which the Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities 


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

2 programs for veterans. 

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

4 the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means any of the following enti5 ties that submit to the Secretary an application containing 

6 such information and assurances as the Secretary may re7 quire: 

8 (1) A nonprofit organization having historically 

9 served veterans mental health needs. 

10 (2) A congressionally chartered veteran service 

11 organization. 

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

13 agency, director, or commissioner. 

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

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

16 does not exceed $250,000. 

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

18 this section shall use the grant funds to— 

19 (1) carry out a program that meets the stand20 ards developed under subsection (e); 

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

22 host group and individual meetings with veterans 

23 seeking nonclinical support; 

24 (3) provide mental health support to veterans 

25 24 hours each day, seven days each week; and 


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1 (4) hire staff to support the program. 

2 (e) PROGRAM STANDARDS.— 

3 (1) ADVISORY COMMISSION.—The Secretary 

4 shall establish an advisory committee for the pur5 pose of creating appropriate standards applicable to 

6 programs established using grants under this sec7 tion. 

8 (2) STANDARDS.—The standards developed 

9 under paragraph (1) shall include initial and contin10 ued training for veteran peer volunteers, administra11 tive staffing needs, and best practices for addressing 

12 the needs of each veteran served. 

13 (f) NONRETENTION OF RECORDS.—The Secretary 

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

15 to maintain records on veterans seeking support or to re16 port any personally identifying information directly or in17 directly to the Secretary about such veterans. 

18 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

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

20 this section during the 3-year period beginning on the date 

21 of the enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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