I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8247 

To make certain improvements relating to the transition of individuals to 

services from the Department of Veterans Affairs, suicide prevention 

for veterans, and care and services for women veterans, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 

Mr. TAKANO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To make certain improvements relating to the transition 

of individuals to services from the Department of Veterans Affairs, suicide prevention for veterans, and care 

and services for women veterans, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and 

6 Treatment Act of 2020’’ or the ‘‘Veterans COMPACT Act 

7 of 2020’’. 


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1 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—IMPROVEMENT OF TRANSITION OF INDIVIDUALS TO 

SERVICES FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

Sec. 101. Pilot program on information sharing between Department of Veterans Affairs and designated relatives and friends of veterans 

regarding assistance and benefits available to the veterans. 

Sec. 102. Annual report on Solid Start program of Department of Veterans Affairs. 

TITLE II—SUICIDE PREVENTION 

Sec. 201. Department of Veterans Affairs provision of emergent suicide care. 

Sec. 202. Education program for family members and caregivers of veterans 

with mental health disorders. 

Sec. 203. Interagency Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans. 

Sec. 204. Contact of certain veterans to encourage receipt of comprehensive 

medical examinations. 

Sec. 205. Police crisis intervention training of Department of Veterans Affairs. 

TITLE III—IMPROVEMENT OF CARE AND SERVICES FOR WOMEN 

VETERANS 

Sec. 301. Gap analysis of Department of Veterans Affairs programs that provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless. 

Sec. 302. Report on locations where women veterans are using health care from 

Department of Veterans Affairs. 

3 TITLE I—IMPROVEMENT OF 

4 TRANSITION OF INDIVIDUALS 

5 TO SERVICES FROM DEPART6 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

7 SEC. 101. PILOT PROGRAM ON INFORMATION SHARING BE8 TWEEN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

9 AND DESIGNATED RELATIVES AND FRIENDS 

10 OF VETERANS REGARDING ASSISTANCE AND 

11 BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO THE VETERANS. 

12 (a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

2 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec3 retary of Veterans Affairs shall commence carrying 

4 out a pilot program— 

5 (A) to encourage members of the Armed 

6 Forces who are transitioning from service in the 

7 Armed Forces to civilian life, before separating 

8 from such service, to designate up to 10 per9 sons to whom information regarding the assist10 ance and benefits available to the veterans 

11 under laws administered by the Secretary shall 

12 be disseminated using the contact information 

13 obtained under paragraph (7); and 

14 (B) provides such persons, within 30 days 

15 after the date on which such persons are des16 ignated under subparagraph (A), the option to 

17 elect to receive such information. 

18 (2) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out 

19 the pilot program during a period beginning on the 

20 date of the commencement of the pilot program that 

21 is not less than two years. 

22 (3) DISSEMINATION.—The Secretary shall dis23 seminate information described in paragraph (1)(A) 

24 under the pilot program no less than quarterly. 


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1 (4) TYPES OF INFORMATION.—The types of in2 formation to be disseminated under the pilot pro3 gram to persons who elect to receive such informa4 tion shall include information regarding the fol5 lowing: 

6 (A) Services and benefits offered to vet7 erans and their family members by the Depart8 ment of Veterans Affairs. 

9 (B) Challenges and stresses that might ac10 company transitioning from service in the 

11 Armed Forces to civilian life. 

12 (C) Services available to veterans and their 

13 family members to cope with the experiences 

14 and challenges of service in the Armed Forces 

15 and transition from such service to civilian life. 

16 (D) Services available through community 

17 partner organizations to support veterans and 

18 their family members. 

19 (E) Services available through Federal, 

20 State, and local government agencies to support 

21 veterans and their family members. 

22 (F) The environmental health registry pro23 gram, health and wellness programs, and re24 sources for preventing and managing diseases 

25 and illnesses. 


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1 (G) A toll-free telephone number through 

2 which such persons who elect to receive infor3 mation under the pilot program may request in4 formation regarding the program. 

5 (H) Such other matters as the Secretary, 

6 in consultation with members of the Armed 

7 Forces and such persons who elect to receive in8 formation under the pilot program, determines 

9 to be appropriate. 

10 (5) PRIVACY OF INFORMATION.—In carrying 

11 out the pilot program, the Secretary may not dis12 seminate information under paragraph (4) in viola13 tion of laws and regulations pertaining to the pri14 vacy of members of the Armed Forces, including re15 quirements pursuant to— 

16 (A) section 552a of title 5, United States 

17 Code; and 

18 (B) the Health Insurance Portability and 

19 Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104– 

20 191). 

21 (6) NOTICE AND MODIFICATIONS.—In carrying 

22 out the pilot program, the Secretary shall, with re23 spect to a veteran— 


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1 (A) ensure that such veteran is notified of 

2 the ability to modify designations made by such 

3 veteran under paragraph (1)(A); and 

4 (B) upon the request of a veteran, author5 ize such veteran to modify such designations at 

6 any time. 

7 (7) CONTACT INFORMATION.—In making a des8 ignation under the pilot program, a veteran shall 

9 provide necessary contact information, specifically 

10 including an email address, to facilitate the dissemi11 nation of information regarding the assistance and 

12 benefits available to the veteran under laws adminis13 tered by the Secretary. 

14 (8) OPT-IN AND OPT-OUT OF PILOT PRO15 GRAM.— 

16 (A) OPT-IN BY MEMBERS.—A veteran may 

17 participate in the pilot program only if the vet18 eran voluntarily elects to participate in the pro19 gram. A veteran seeking to make such an elec20 tion shall make such election in a manner, and 

21 by including such information, as the Secretary 

22 shall specify for purposes of the pilot program. 

23 (B) OPT-IN BY DESIGNATED RECIPI24 ENTS.—A person designated pursuant to para25 graph (1)(A) may receive information under the 


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1 pilot program only if the person makes the elec2 tion described in paragraph (1)(B). 

3 (C) OPT-OUT.—In carrying out the pilot 

4 program, the Secretary shall, with respect to a 

5 person who has elected to receive information 

6 under such pilot program, cease disseminating 

7 such information to that person upon request of 

8 such person. 

9 (b) SURVEY AND REPORT ON PILOT PROGRAM.— 

10 (1) SURVEY.— 

11 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

12 after the date of the commencement of the pilot 

13 program and not less frequently than once each 

14 year thereafter for the duration of the pilot pro15 gram, the Secretary shall administer a survey 

16 to persons who ever elected to receive informa17 tion under the pilot program for the purpose of 

18 receiving feedback regarding the quality of in19 formation disseminated under this section. 

20 (B) ELEMENTS.—Each survey conducted 

21 under subparagraph (A) shall include solicita22 tion of the following: 

23 (i) Feedback on the following: 

24 (I) The nature of information 

25 disseminated under the pilot program. 


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1 (II) Satisfaction with the pilot 

2 program. 

3 (III) The utility of the pilot pro4 gram. 

5 (IV) Overall pilot program suc6 cesses and challenges. 

7 (ii) Recommendations for improving 

8 the pilot program. 

9 (iii) Reasons for opting in or out of 

10 the pilot program. 

11 (iv) Such other feedback or matters as 

12 the Secretary considers appropriate. 

13 (2) REPORT.— 

14 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than three 

15 years after the date on which the pilot program 

16 commences, the Secretary shall submit to the 

17 Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 

18 of Representatives and the Senate a final report 

19 on the pilot program. 

20 (B) CONTENTS.—The report submitted 

21 under subparagraph (A) shall include the fol22 lowing: 

23 (i) The results of the survey adminis24 tered under paragraph (1). 


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1 (ii) The number of participants en2 rolled in the pilot program who are vet3 erans. 

4 (iii) The number of persons des5 ignated under subsection (a)(1)(A). 

6 (iv) The number of such persons who 

7 opted in or out of the pilot program under 

8 subsection (a)(8). 

9 (v) The average period such persons 

10 remained in the pilot program. 

11 (vi) An assessment of the feasibility 

12 and advisability of making the pilot pro13 gram permanent. 

14 (vii) Identification of legislative or ad15 ministrative action that may be necessary 

16 if the pilot program is made permanent. 

17 (viii) A plan to expand the pilot pro18 gram if the pilot program is made perma19 nent. 

20 (ix) If the Secretary finds under 

21 clause (vi) that making the pilot program 

22 permanent is not feasible or advisable, a 

23 justification for such finding. 


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1 SEC. 102. ANNUAL REPORT ON SOLID START PROGRAM OF 

2 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

3 (a) REPORTS REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 

4 after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 

5 thereafter for a period of five years, the Secretary of Vet6 erans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ 

7 Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a re8 port on the Solid Start program of the Department of Vet9 erans Affairs. 

10 (b) ELEMENTS.—Each report under subsection (a) 

11 shall include the following: 

12 (1) With respect to each veteran called or 

13 emailed under the Solid Start program: 

14 (A) The Armed Force of the veteran. 

15 (B) Age. 

16 (C) Gender. 

17 (D) Whether the veteran responded to the 

18 call or email. 

19 (E) Whether the call or email resulted in 

20 a call to the Veterans Crisis Line established 

21 pursuant to section 1720F(h) of title 38, 

22 United States Code. 

23 (F) Whether the call or email resulted in 

24 a referral to— 

25 (i) compensation and pension deter26 mination; 


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1 (ii) enrollment in the patient enroll2 ment system of the Department; or 

3 (iii) any other program or benefit 

4 under the laws administered by the Sec5 retary. 

6 (2) Any change to the Solid Start program im7 plemented by the Secretary since the date of the pre8 vious such report. 

9 (c) PROHIBITION ON PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE IN10 FORMATION.—No report under subsection (a) may contain 

11 any personally identifiable information regarding a vet12 eran. 

13 TITLE II—SUICIDE PREVENTION 

14 SEC. 201. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVISION 

15 OF EMERGENT SUICIDE CARE. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 of 

17 title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

18 end the following new section: 

19 ‘‘§ 1720J. Emergent suicide care 

20 ‘‘(a) FURNISHING OR PAYMENT FOR EMERGENT SUI21 CIDE CARE.—Pursuant to this section, the Secretary shall 

22 furnish or pay for emergent suicide care to an eligible indi23 vidual at a medical facility of the Department or at a non24 Department facility. 


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1 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual is eligible for emer2 gent suicide care under this section if the individual is in 

3 an acute suicidal crisis and is either of the following: 

4 ‘‘(1) A veteran. 

5 ‘‘(2) An individual described in section 1720I(b) 

6 of this title. 

7 ‘‘(c) PERIOD OF CARE.—(1) Emergent suicide care 

8 furnished under this section shall be furnished to an eligi9 ble individual— 

10 ‘‘(A) through inpatient or crisis residential care, 

11 for a period not to exceed 30 days; or 

12 ‘‘(B) if care under subparagraph (A) is unavail13 able, as outpatient care for a period not to exceed 

14 90 days. 

15 ‘‘(2) If, upon the expiration of a period under para16 graph (1), the Secretary determines that the eligible indi17 vidual remains in an acute suicidal crisis, the Secretary 

18 may extend such period as the Secretary determines ap19 propriate. 

20 ‘‘(d) OUTREACH.—During any period when an eligi21 ble individual is receiving emergent suicide care furnished 

22 under this section, the Secretary shall— 

23 ‘‘(1) ensure that— 

24 ‘‘(A) in the case of an eligible individual 

25 referred to a medical facility of the Department 


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1 by the Veterans Crisis Line, the Veterans Crisis 

2 Line notifies the Suicide Prevention Coordi3 nator; 

4 ‘‘(B) in the case of an eligible individual 

5 who presents at a medical facility of the De6 partment in an acute suicidal crisis without a 

7 referral by the Veterans Crisis Line, the Sec8 retary notifies the Suicide Prevention Coordi9 nator; 

10 ‘‘(C) in the case of an eligible individual 

11 referred to a non-Department facility by the 

12 Veterans Crisis Line, the Veterans Crisis Line 

13 notifies the Suicide Prevention Coordinator and 

14 the Office of Community Care at the Depart15 ment facility located nearest to the eligible indi16 vidual; and 

17 ‘‘(D) in the case of an eligible individual 

18 who presents at a non-Department facility in an 

19 acute suicidal crisis without a referral by the 

20 Veterans Crisis Line— 

21 ‘‘(i) the individual (or someone acting 

22 on the behalf of the individual) notifies the 

23 Secretary within seven days of the begin24 ning of the episode of care for such emer25 gent suicide care; and 


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1 ‘‘(ii) the Secretary notifies the Suicide 

2 Prevention Coordinator and the Office of 

3 Community Care at the medical facility of 

4 the Department located nearest to the eli5 gible individual; 

6 ‘‘(2) determine the eligibility of the eligible indi7 vidual for other programs and benefits under the 

8 laws administered by the Secretary; and 

9 ‘‘(3) make referrals for care following the pe10 riod of such emergent suicide care, as the Secretary 

11 determines appropriate. 

12 ‘‘(e) PROHIBITION ON CHARGE.—(1) If the Secretary 

13 furnishes or pays for emergent suicide care to an eligible 

14 individual, the Secretary— 

15 ‘‘(A) may not charge the eligible individual for 

16 any cost of such emergent suicide care; and 

17 ‘‘(B) shall pay for any costs of emergency 

18 transportation to a facility for such emergent suicide 

19 care. 

20 ‘‘(2) In addition to the requirements of paragraph 

21 (1), if the Secretary pays for emergent suicide care to an 

22 eligible individual at a non-Department facility, the Sec23 retary shall— 

24 ‘‘(A) reimburse the facility for the reasonable 

25 value of such emergent suicide care; and 


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1 ‘‘(B) ensure that such facility, or any health 

2 care provider working at such facility, does not 

3 charge the eligible individual for such emergent sui4 cide care. 

5 ‘‘(3) In the case of an eligible individual who receives 

6 emergent suicide care under this section and who is enti7 tled to emergent suicide care (or payment for emergent 

8 suicide care) under a health-plan contract, the Secretary 

9 may recover the costs of such emergency suicide care pro10 vided under this section. 

11 ‘‘(4) In carrying out subsection (d)(1)(D), the Sec12 retary may not charge an eligible individual for any cost 

13 of emergent suicide care furnished under this section sole14 ly by reason of the Secretary not having been notified of 

15 such care pursuant to such subsection. 

16 ‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not less than once each 

17 year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Vet18 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representa19 tives a report on emergent suicide care furnished or paid 

20 for under this section. Each such report shall include, for 

21 the year covered by the report— 

22 ‘‘(1) the number of eligible individuals who re23 ceived emergent suicide care under this section; 

24 ‘‘(2) demographic information regarding eligible 

25 individuals described in paragraph (1); 


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1 ‘‘(3) the types of care furnished or paid for this 

2 section; and 

3 ‘‘(4) the total cost of furnishing and paying for 

4 emergent suicide care under this section. 

5 ‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

6 ‘‘(1) The term ‘acute suicidal crisis’ means that 

7 an individual was determined to be at imminent risk 

8 of self-harm by a trained crisis responder or health 

9 care provider. 

10 ‘‘(2) The term ‘crisis residential care’ means 

11 crisis stabilization care provided— 

12 ‘‘(A) on a residential basis; and 

13 ‘‘(B) in a facility other than a hospital. 

14 ‘‘(3) The term ‘crisis stabilization care’ means, 

15 with respect to an individual in acute suicidal crisis, 

16 care that ensures, to the extent practicable, imme17 diate safety and reduces— 

18 ‘‘(A) the severity of distress; 

19 ‘‘(B) the need for urgent care; or 

20 ‘‘(C) the likelihood that the distress under 

21 subparagraph (A) or need under subparagraph 

22 (B) will increase during the transfer of that in23 dividual from a facility at which the individual 

24 has received care for that acute suicidal crisis. 


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1 ‘‘(4) The term ‘emergent suicide care’ means 

2 crisis stabilization services provided to an eligible in3 dividual— 

4 ‘‘(A) pursuant to a referral of the eligible 

5 individual from the Veterans Crisis Line; or 

6 ‘‘(B) who presents at a medical facility in 

7 an acute suicidal crisis. 

8 ‘‘(5) The term ‘health-plan contract’ has the 

9 meaning given such term in section 1725 of this 

10 title. 

11 ‘‘(6) The term ‘Veterans Crisis Line’ means the 

12 hotline under section 1720F(h) of this title.’’. 

13 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

14 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 

15 after the item relation to section 1720I the following new 

16 item: 

‘‘1720J. Emergent suicide care.’’. 

17 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Secretary shall furnish 

18 or pay for emergent suicide care under section 1720J of 

19 title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), 

20 beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of 

21 the enactment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 202. EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR FAMILY MEMBERS 

2 AND CAREGIVERS OF VETERANS WITH MEN3 TAL HEALTH DISORDERS. 

4 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 270 days after 

5 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

6 Veterans Affairs shall establish an education program (in 

7 this section referred to as the ‘‘education program’’) for 

8 the education and training of caregivers and family mem9 bers of eligible veterans with mental health disorders. 

10 (b) EDUCATION PROGRAM.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Under the education pro12 gram, the Secretary shall provide a course of edu13 cation to caregivers and family members of eligible 

14 veterans on matters relating to coping with mental 

15 health disorders in veterans. 

16 (2) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out 

17 the education program during the four-year period 

18 beginning on the date of the commencement of the 

19 education program. 

20 (3) SCOPE.— 

21 (A) CAREGIVERS.—The Secretary, with re22 spect to the component of the education pro23 gram that relates to the education and training 

24 of caregivers, shall— 

25 (i) include such component in the 

26 training provided pursuant to the program 


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1 of comprehensive assistance for family 

2 caregivers of the Department of Veterans 

3 Affairs established under section 1720G of 

4 title 38, United States Code; and 

5 (ii) make such component available on 

6 the internet website of the Department 

7 that relates to caregiver training. 

8 (B) FAMILY MEMBERS.—The Secretary 

9 shall carry out the component of the education 

10 program that relates to the education and 

11 training of family members (who are not care12 givers) at facilities of the Department as fol13 lows: 

14 (i) Not less than five medical centers 

15 of the Department. 

16 (ii) Not less than five clinics of the 

17 Department. 

18 (iii) Not less than five Vet Centers (as 

19 defined in section 1712A(h) of title 38, 

20 United States Code). 

21 (C) SOLICITATION OF APPLICATIONS.—In 

22 selecting locations pursuant to subparagraph 

23 (B), the Secretary shall solicit applications from 

24 eligible facilities of the Department that are in25 terested in carrying out the education program. 


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1 (D) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting loca2 tions pursuant to subparagraph (B), the Sec3 retary shall consider the feasibility and advis4 ability of selecting locations in the following 

5 areas: 

6 (i) Rural areas. 

7 (ii) Areas that are not in close prox8 imity to an active duty installation. 

9 (iii) Areas in different geographic lo10 cations. 

11 (4) CONTRACTS.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the 

13 education program, the Secretary shall enter 

14 into contracts with qualified entities described 

15 in subparagraph (B) to offer the course of edu16 cation described in paragraph (5) to family 

17 members and caregivers of eligible veterans and 

18 covered veterans. 

19 (B) QUALIFIED ENTITY DESCRIBED.—A 

20 qualified entity described in this subparagraph 

21 is a nonprofit entity with experience in mental 

22 health education and outreach, including work 

23 with children, teens, and young adults, that— 

24 (i) uses high-quality, relevant, and 

25 age-appropriate information in educational 


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1 programming, materials, and coursework, 

2 including such programming, materials, 

3 and coursework for children, teens, and 

4 young adults; and 

5 (ii) works with agencies, departments, 

6 nonprofit mental health organizations, 

7 early childhood educators, and mental 

8 health providers to develop educational 

9 programming, materials, and coursework. 

10 (C) PRIORITY.—In entering into contracts 

11 under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give 

12 priority to qualified entities that have dem13 onstrated cultural competence in serving mili14 tary and veteran populations, and, to the extent 

15 practicable, use internet technology for the de16 livery of course content in an effort to expand 

17 the availability of support services, especially in 

18 rural areas. 

19 (5) COURSE OF EDUCATION DESCRIBED.—The 

20 course of education described in this paragraph shall 

21 consist of curriculum that includes the following: 

22 (A) General education on different mental 

23 health disorders, including information to im24 prove understanding of the experiences of indi25 viduals suffering from such disorders. 


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1 (B) Techniques for handling crisis situa2 tions and administering mental health first aid 

3 to individuals suffering from a mental health 

4 disorder. 

5 (C) Techniques for coping with the stress 

6 of living with an individual suffering from a 

7 mental health disorder. 

8 (D) Information on additional services 

9 available for family members and caregivers 

10 through the Department or community organi11 zations and providers related to mental health 

12 disorders. 

13 (E) Such other matters as the Secretary 

14 considers appropriate. 

15 (c) SURVEYS.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct 

17 a comprehensive survey of the satisfaction of individ18 uals that have participated in the course of edu19 cation described in subsection (b)(5). Such survey 

20 shall include a solicitation of feedback on the fol21 lowing: 

22 (A) The general satisfaction of those indi23 viduals with the education and assistance pro24 vided under the education program. 


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1 (B) The perceived effectiveness of the edu2 cation program in providing education and as3 sistance that is useful for those individuals. 

4 (C) The applicability of the education pro5 gram to the issues faced by those individuals. 

6 (D) Such other matters as the Secretary 

7 considers appropriate. 

8 (2) COMPILATION OF INFORMATION.—The in9 formation compiled as a result of the surveys con10 ducted under paragraph (1) shall be— 

11 (A) disaggregated by facility type at which 

12 the education program was carried out; and 

13 (B) included in the annual reports under 

14 subsection (d)(1). 

15 (d) REPORTS.— 

16 (1) ANNUAL REPORTS.— 

17 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

18 after the date of the commencement of the edu19 cation program and not later than September 

20 30 each year thereafter until 2024, the Sec21 retary shall submit to the Committee on Vet22 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 

23 on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Represent24 atives a report on— 

25 (i) the education program; and 


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1 (ii) the feasibility and advisability of 

2 expanding the education program to in3 clude the establishment of a peer support 

4 program composed of individuals who com5 plete the education program (in this sec6 tion referred to as a ‘‘peer support pro7 gram’’). 

8 (B) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted 

9 under subparagraph (A) shall include the fol10 lowing: 

11 (i) The number of individuals that 

12 participated in the course of education de13 scribed in subsection (b)(5) during the 

14 year preceding the submission of the re15 port. 

16 (ii) A detailed analysis of the surveys 

17 conducted under subsection (c) with re18 spect to the individuals described in clause 

19 (i). 

20 (iii) Any plans for expansion of the 

21 education program. 

22 (iv) An analysis of the feasibility and 

23 advisability of establishing a peer support 

24 program. 


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1 (v) The interim findings and conclu2 sions of the Secretary with respect to the 

3 success of the education program and the 

4 feasibility and advisability of establishing a 

5 peer support program. 

6 (2) FINAL REPORT.— 

7 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

8 after the completion of the education program, 

9 the Secretary shall submit to the Committees 

10 on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Represent11 atives and the Senate a final report on the fea12 sibility and advisability of continuing the edu13 cation program. 

14 (B) ELEMENTS.—The final report under 

15 subparagraph (A) shall include the following: 

16 (i) A detailed analysis of the surveys 

17 conducted under subsection (c). 

18 (ii) An analysis of the feasibility and 

19 advisability of continuing the education 

20 program without entering into contracts 

21 for the course of education described in 

22 subsection (b)(5). 

23 (iii) An analysis of the feasibility and 

24 advisability of expanding the education 

25 program. 


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1 (iv) An analysis of the feasibility and 

2 advisability of establishing a peer support 

3 program. 

4 (e) MONITORING OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall 

5 select mental health care providers of the Department to 

6 monitor the progress of the instruction provided under the 

7 education program. 

8 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

9 (1) The term ‘‘eligible veteran’’ means a vet10 eran who is enrolled in the health care system estab11 lished under section 1705(a) of title 38, United 

12 States Code. 

13 (2) The terms ‘‘caregiver’’ and ‘‘family mem14 ber’’ have the meaning given those terms in section 

15 1720G(d) of title 38, United States Code. 

16 SEC. 203. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON OUTDOOR RECRE17 ATION FOR VETERANS. 

18 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 18 months 

19 after the date on which the national emergency declared 

20 by the President pursuant to the National Emergencies 

21 Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to the 

22 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) expires, the Sec23 retary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a task force to 

24 be known as the ‘‘Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for 


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1 Veterans’’ (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Task 

2 Force’’). 

3 (b) COMPOSITION.—The Task Force shall be com4 posed of the following members or their designees: 

5 (1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

6 (2) The Secretary of the Interior. 

7 (3) The Secretary of Health and Human Serv8 ices. 

9 (4) The Secretary of Agriculture. 

10 (5) The Secretary of Defense. 

11 (6) The Secretary of Homeland Security. 

12 (7) The Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers. 

13 (8) At least two representatives from organiza14 tions recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

15 under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code. 

16 (9) Any other member that the Secretary of 

17 Veterans Affairs determines to be appropriate. 

18 (c) CHAIRPERSONS.—The Secretary of Veterans Af19 fairs and the Secretary of the Interior shall serve as co20 chairpersons of the Task Force (in this section referred 

21 to as the ‘‘Chairpersons’’). 

22 (d) DUTIES.— 

23 (1) TASK FORCE.—The duties of the Task 

24 Force shall be— 


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1 (A) to identify opportunities to formalize 

2 coordination between the Department of Vet3 erans Affairs, public land agencies, and partner 

4 organizations regarding the use of public lands 

5 and other outdoor spaces for facilitating health 

6 and wellness for veterans; 

7 (B) to identify barriers that exist to pro8 viding veterans with opportunities to augment 

9 the delivery of services for health and wellness 

10 through the use of outdoor recreation on public 

11 lands and other outdoor spaces; and 

12 (C) to develop recommendations to better 

13 facilitate the use of public lands and other out14 door spaces for promoting wellness and facili15 tating the delivery of health care and thera16 peutic interventions for veterans. 

17 (2) CONSULTATION.—The Task Force shall 

18 carry out the duties under paragraph (1) in con19 sultation with appropriate veterans outdoor recre20 ation groups. 

21 (e) REPORTS.— 

22 (1) PRELIMINARY REPORT.—Not later than one 

23 year after the date on which the Task Force is es24 tablished, the Chairpersons shall submit to Congress 


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1 a report on the preliminary findings of the Task 

2 Force. 

3 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than one year 

4 after the date of the submission of the preliminary 

5 report under paragraph (1), the Chairpersons shall 

6 submit to Congress a report on the findings of the 

7 Task Force, which shall include the recommenda8 tions developed under subsection (d)(1)(C). 

9 (f) DURATION.—The Task Force shall terminate on 

10 the date that is one year after the date of the submission 

11 of the final report in subsection (e)(2). 

12 (g) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY

13 COMMITTEE ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act 

14 (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Task Force. 

15 (h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

16 (1) The term ‘‘public lands’’ means any rec17 reational lands under the jurisdiction of the Federal 

18 Government or a State or local government. 

19 (2) The term ‘‘veteran’’ means an individual 

20 who is— 

21 (A) a veteran, as such term is defined in 

22 section 101 of title 38, United States Code; or 

23 (B) an eligible individual under section 

24 1720I(b) of title 38. 


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1 SEC. 204. CONTACT OF CERTAIN VETERANS TO ENCOUR2 AGE RECEIPT OF COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL 

3 EXAMINATIONS. 

4 (a) NOTICE.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

5 of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of 

6 Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall seek 

7 to contact each covered veteran by mail, telephone, or 

8 email to encourage each covered veteran to receive medical 

9 examinations including the following: 

10 (1) A comprehensive physical examination. 

11 (2) A comprehensive mental health examina12 tion. 

13 (3) A comprehensive eye examination if the cov14 ered veteran has not received such an examination 

15 in the year immediately preceding the date of such 

16 examination. 

17 (4) A comprehensive audiological examination if 

18 the covered veteran has not received such an exam19 ination in the year immediately preceding the date 

20 of such examination. 

21 (b) EXAMINATIONS.— 

22 (1) VA HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.—If a cov23 ered veteran elects to receive more than one exam24 ination described in subsection (a) at a health care 

25 facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 


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1 Under Secretary of Health shall seek to furnish all 

2 such scheduled examinations on the same day. 

3 (2) COMMUNITY CARE.—Pursuant to subsection 

4 (d) or (e) of section 1703 of title 38, United States 

5 Code, a covered veteran may receive an examination 

6 described in subsection (a) from a health care pro7 vider described in subsection (c) of that section. 

8 (c) TRANSPORTATION.— 

9 (1) BENEFICIARY TRAVEL PROGRAM.—Pursu10 ant to section 111 of title 38, United States Code, 

11 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may pay for a 

12 rural covered veteran to travel to a health care facil13 ity to receive an examination described in subsection 

14 (a). 

15 (2) SHUTTLE SERVICE.—The Under Secretary 

16 of Health shall seek to enter into agreements with 

17 nonprofit organizations to provide shuttle service to 

18 rural covered veterans for examinations described in 

19 subsection (a). 

20 (d) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 18 months 

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

22 of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report re23 garding how many covered veterans scheduled examina24 tions described in subsection (a) after receiving a letter, 

25 telephone call, or email under that subsection. 


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1 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

2 (1) The term ‘‘covered veteran’’ means a vet3 eran who— 

4 (A) is enrolled in the patient enrollment 

5 system of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

6 under section 1705 of title 38, United States 

7 Code; and 

8 (B) has not received health care furnished 

9 or paid for by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

10 during the two years immediately preceding the 

11 date in subsection (a)(1). 

12 (2) The term ‘‘rural covered veteran’’ means a 

13 covered veteran— 

14 (A) who lives in an area served by the Of15 fice of Rural Health of the Department of Vet16 erans Affairs; and 

17 (B) whom the Under Secretary of Health 

18 determines requires assistance to travel to a 

19 health care facility to receive an examination 

20 described in subsection (a). 

21 (3) The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning given 

22 that term in section 101 of title 38, United States 

23 Code. 


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1 SEC. 205. POLICE CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING OF DE2 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

3 (a) TRAINING.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

4 shall provide to Department police officers an annual 

5 training on the prevention of suicide among the population 

6 served by the Department police officers. 

7 (b) CURRICULUM.—In carrying out subsection (a), 

8 the Secretary shall update any similar training provided 

9 before the date of the enactment of this Act to ensure that 

10 the curriculum for the training addresses, at a minimum, 

11 the following: 

12 (1) Effective behavioral science procedures for 

13 suicide prevention and risk mitigation. 

14 (2) Crisis intervention and de-escalation skills, 

15 including through the use of interactive training. 

16 (3) Information about mental health and sub17 stance abuse disorders. 

18 (4) Information about local law enforcement 

19 crisis intervention teams and other resources for vet20 erans experiencing mental health crises available by 

21 the Department of Veterans Affairs, other elements 

22 of the Federal Government, and the community in 

23 which the police officers serve. 

24 (c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall ensure that 

25 the annual training provided to Department police officers 

26 at a medical facility of the Department under subsection 


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1 (a) is provided in consultation with law enforcement train2 ing accreditation organizations and the mental health ex3 perts at such facility. 

4 (d) PLAN ON COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.—The 

5 Secretary shall ensure that each police force of a facility 

6 of the Department develops a plan to enter into partner7 ships with— 

8 (1) local community mental health organiza9 tions and experts, local community veterans organi10 zations, and local community criminal justice organi11 zations and experts; and 

12 (2) local police departments, including by facili13 tating the sharing of training resources with crisis 

14 intervention teams of the local police departments. 

15 (e) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 

16 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

17 to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

18 Representatives and the Senate a report on the annual 

19 training under subsection (a), including— 

20 (1) a description of the curriculum of such 

21 training; 

22 (2) with respect to the year preceding the date 

23 of the report— 

24 (A) the number of facilities of the Depart25 ment that conducted such training; 


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1 (B) the number of Department police offi2 cers who received such training; and 

3 (C) any barriers to ensuring that each De4 partment police officer receives such training; 

5 (3) any recommendations to address the bar6 riers identified under paragraph (2)(C); and 

7 (4) the number of facilities of the Department 

8 that have entered into partnerships pursuant to sub9 section (d). 

10 (f) DEPARTMENT POLICE OFFICER DEFINED.—In 

11 this section, the term ‘‘Department police officer’’ means 

12 an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs speci13 fied in section 902(a) of title 38, United States Code. 

14 TITLE III—IMPROVEMENT OF 

15 CARE AND SERVICES FOR 

16 WOMEN VETERANS 

17 SEC. 301. GAP ANALYSIS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

18 AFFAIRS PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ASSIST19 ANCE TO WOMEN VETERANS WHO ARE HOME20 LESS. 

21 (a) ANALYSIS.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

22 shall complete an analysis of programs of the Department 

23 of Veterans Affairs that provide assistance to women vet24 erans who are homeless or precariously housed to identify 


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1 the areas in which such programs are failing to meet the 

2 needs of such women. 

3 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 

4 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

5 to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

6 Representatives and the Senate a report on the analysis 

7 completed under subsection (a). 

8 SEC. 302. REPORT ON LOCATIONS WHERE WOMEN VET9 ERANS ARE USING HEALTH CARE FROM DE10 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

11 (a) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

12 of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 

13 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Commit14 tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 

15 and the Senate a report on the use by women veterans 

16 of health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

17 (b) ELEMENTS.—Each report required by subsection 

18 (a) shall include the following information: 

19 (1) The number of women veterans who reside 

20 in each State. 

21 (2) The number of women veterans in each 

22 State who are enrolled in the patient enrollment sys23 tem of the Department under section 1705 of title 

24 38, United States Code. 


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1 (3) Of the women veterans who are so enrolled, 

2 the number who have received health care under the 

3 laws administered by the Secretary at least one time 

4 during the one-year period preceding the submission 

5 of the report. 

6 (4) The number of women veterans who have 

7 been seen at each medical facility of the Department 

8 during such year, disaggregated by facility. 

9 (5) The number of appointments that women 

10 veterans have had at a medical facility of the De11 partment during such year, disaggregated by— 

12 (A) facility; and 

13 (B) appointments for— 

14 (i) primary care; 

15 (ii) specialty care; and 

16 (iii) mental health care. 

17 (6) For each appointment type specified in 

18 paragraph (5)(B), the number of appointments com19 pleted in-person and the number of appointments 

20 completed through the use of telehealth. 

21 (7) If known, an identification of the medical 

22 facility of the Department in each Veterans Inte23 grated Service Network with the largest rate of in24 crease in patient population of women veterans as 


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1 measured by the increase in unique women veteran 

2 patient use. 

3 (8) If known, an identification of the medical 

4 facility of the Department in each Veterans Inte5 grated Service Network with the largest rate of de6 crease in patient population of women veterans as 

7 measured by the decrease in unique women veterans 

8 patient use. 

Æ 


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