IB 

Union Calendar No. 530 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4635 

[Report No. 115–687] 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peerto-peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 13, 2017 

Mr. COFFMAN (for himself and Ms. ESTY of Connecticut) introduced the 

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

MAY 18, 2018 

Additional sponsors: Mr. COLE, Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania, Mr. HIMES, 

Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. BISHOP of Michigan, Mr. POLIQUIN, Mrs. DINGELL, 

Ms. MOORE, Mr. O’ROURKE, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. RUTHERFORD, Mr. KIND, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. BILIRAKIS, 

Miss GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N of Puerto Rico, Mr. KILMER, Mr. COURTNEY, 

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mr. 

PETERS, Miss RICE of New York, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. BOST, Ms. SHEAPORTER, and Mr. SOTO

MAY 18, 2018 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on December 13, 2017] 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
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•HR 4635 RH

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the 

number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling 

for women veterans, and for other purposes. 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 4635 RH

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

3 SECTION 1. PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR 

4 WOMEN VETERANS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1720F(j) of title 38, United 

6 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 

7 new paragraph: 

8 ‘‘(4)(A) As part of the counseling program under this 

9 subsection, the Secretary shall emphasize appointing peer 

10 support counselors for women veterans. To the degree prac11 ticable, the Secretary shall seek to recruit women peer sup12 port counselors with expertise in— 

13 ‘‘(i) female gender-specific issues and services; 

14 ‘‘(ii) the provision of information about services 

15 and benefits provided under laws administered by the 

16 Secretary; or 

17 ‘‘(iii) employment mentoring. 

18 ‘‘(B) To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall em19 phasize facilitating peer support counseling for women vet20 erans who are eligible for counseling and services under sec21 tion 1720D of this title, have post-traumatic stress disorder 

22 or suffer from another mental health condition, are homeless 

23 or at risk of becoming homeless, or are otherwise at in24 creased risk of suicide, as determined by the Secretary. 


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•HR 4635 RH

1 ‘‘(C) The Secretary shall conduct outreach to inform 

2 women veterans about the program and the assistance 

3 available under this paragraph. 

4 ‘‘(D) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary 

5 shall coordinate with such community organizations, State 

6 and local governments, institutions of higher education, 

7 chambers of commerce, local business organizations, organi8 zations that provide legal assistance, and other organiza9 tions as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

10 ‘‘(E) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary 

11 shall provide adequate training for peer support counselors, 

12 including training carried out under the national program 

13 of training required by section 304(c) of the Caregivers and 

14 Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (38 U.S.C. 

15 1712A note).’’. 

16 (b) FUNDING.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

17 carry out paragraph (4) of section 1720F(j) of title 38, 

18 United States Code, as added by subsection (a), using funds 

19 otherwise made available to the Secretary. No additional 

20 funds are authorized to be appropriated by reason of such 

21 paragraph. 

22 (c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than two years 

23 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

24 of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Vet25 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 


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•HR 4635 RH

1 a report on the peer support counseling program under sec2 tion 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, as amended 

3 by this section. Such report shall include— 

4 (1) the number of peer support counselors in the 

5 program; 

6 (2) an assessment of the effectiveness of the pro7 gram; and 

8 (3) a description of the oversight of the program. 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 530 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4635 

[Report No. 115–687] 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to inother purposes. viding counseling for women veterans, and for crease the number of peer-to-peer counselors proMAY 18, 2018 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS