II 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4724 

To improve and expand the Solid Start program of the Department of 

Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 

Ms. HASSAN (for herself, Mr. CRAMER, and Mr. CASSIDY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To improve and expand the Solid Start program of the 

Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 ‘‘Solid Start Act of 

5 2020’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) In 2020, veterans continue to die by suicide 

9 at higher rates than civilians. Many of those vet10 erans have no ties to the Department of Veterans 


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1 Affairs, limiting the ability of the Department to 

2 help in times of crisis. 

3 (2) The first year after separating from the 

4 military is a critical time in the transition to civilian 

5 life for a member of the Armed Forces. Many 

6 changes occur during that transition, from career 

7 and location changes to shifts in financial cir8 cumstances and health care coverage. 

9 SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

10 It is the sense of Congress that the United States 

11 must strive to better serve members of the Armed Forces 

12 and veterans who are transitioning to civilian life by— 

13 (1) providing up-to-date information and access 

14 to resources that such members of the Armed 

15 Forces may not be aware of; 

16 (2) supporting the critical time of transition by 

17 ensuring that mental health needs are met in a time18 ly manner; and 

19 (3) assisting members of the Armed Forces and 

20 veterans in accessing newly available services. 

21 SEC. 4. PURPOSES. 

22 The purposes of this Act are— 

23 (1) to build the capacity of the Department of 

24 Veterans Affairs to efficiently and effectively reVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:42 Oct 15, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4724.IS S4724

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1 spond to the queries and needs of veterans who have 

2 recently separated from the Armed Forces; and 

3 (2) to systemically integrate and coordinate ef4 forts to assist veterans, including efforts— 

5 (A) to proactively reach out to newly sepa6 rated veterans to inform them of their eligibility 

7 for programs of and benefits provided by the 

8 Department; and 

9 (B) to connect veterans in crisis to re10 sources that address their immediate needs. 

11 SEC. 5. ACTIVITIES OF THE SOLID START PROGRAM OF THE 

12 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

13 (a) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary of Vet14 erans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of De15 fense, shall carry out the Solid Start program of the De16 partment of Veterans Affairs by— 

17 (1) collecting up-to-date contact information 

18 during transition classes or separation counseling for 

19 all members of the Armed Forces who are sepa20 rating from the Armed Forces, while explaining the 

21 existence and purpose of the Solid Start program; 

22 (2) calling each veteran, regardless of separa23 tion type or characterization of service, not less than 

24 twice within the first year after separation from the 

25 Armed Forces; 


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1 (3) providing information about the Solid Start 

2 program on the website of the Department and in 

3 materials of the Department, especially transition 

4 booklets and other resources; 

5 (4) ensuring calls are truly tailored to the needs 

6 of each veteran’s unique situation by conducting 

7 quality assurance tests; and 

8 (5) prioritizing outreach to veterans who have 

9 accessed mental health resources prior to separation 

10 from the Armed Forces. 

11 (b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary of 

12 Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of De13 fense, may carry out the Solid Start program by— 

14 (1) encouraging members of the Armed Forces 

15 who are transitioning to civilian life to authorize al16 ternate points of contact who can be reached should 

17 the member be unavailable during the first year fol18 lowing the separation of the member from the 

19 Armed Forces; 

20 (2) following up missed phone calls with tai21 lored mailings to ensure the veteran still receives 

22 similar information; and 

23 (3) striving to reach out to veterans who sepa24 rated prior to the initiation of the Solid Start proVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:42 Oct 15, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4724.IS S4724

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1 gram to provide similar services to those veterans, 

2 when feasible. 

3 SEC. 6. ASSESSMENT BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY 

4 OFFICE OF SOLID START PROGRAM OF THE 

5 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

6 (a) ASSESSMENT.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date that 

8 is one year after the date of the enactment of this 

9 Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 

10 shall carry out an assessment of the Solid Start pro11 gram of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

12 (2) ELEMENTS.—The assessment required by 

13 paragraph (1) shall analyze the following: 

14 (A) How many veterans have been con15 tacted through the Solid Start program since 

16 the establishment of the program as compared 

17 to how many veterans have not been reached. 

18 (B) Whether feedback on the Solid Start 

19 program indicates that the program is working. 

20 (C) Whether the Solid Start program is 

21 meeting the purposes described in section 4. 

22 (D) Improvements that could be made to 

23 the Solid Start program. 


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1 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date 

2 described in subsection (a)(1), the Comptroller General 

3 shall— 

4 (1) complete the assessment required by such 

5 subsection; and 

6 (2) submit a report on the findings of the as7 sessment to— 

8 (A) the Committee on Veterans Affairs’ 

9 and the Committee on Armed Services of the 

10 Senate; and 

11 (B) the Committee on Veterans Affairs’ 

12 and the Committee on Armed Services of the 

13 House of Representatives. 

14 SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

15 There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

16 this Act the greater of— 

17 (1) such sums as may be necessary for each fis18 cal year to carry out this Act; or 

19 (2) the amount expended by the Department of 

20 Veterans Affairs during fiscal year 2020 to carry 

21 out activities of the Solid Start program. 

Æ 


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