I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8819 

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

Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 24, 2020 

Ms. SLOTKIN (for herself and Mr. JOYCE of Ohio) introduced the following 

bill; which was 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 04:31 Dec 02, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8819.IH H8819

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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— 

7 (i) inform them of their eligibility for 

8 programs of and benefits provided by the 

9 Department; and 

10 (ii) provide them information relating 

11 to the programs of, and benefits provided 

12 by, an appropriate veterans agency of a 

13 State; and 

14 (B) to connect veterans in crisis to re15 sources that address their immediate needs. 

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

17 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

18 (a) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary of Vet19 erans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of De20 fense, shall carry out the Solid Start program of the De21 partment of Veterans Affairs by— 

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

23 during transition classes or separation counseling for 

24 all members of the Armed Forces who are sepaVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:31 Dec 02, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8819.IH H8819

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1 rating from the Armed Forces, while explaining the 

2 existence and purpose of the Solid Start program; 

3 (2) calling each veteran, regardless of separa4 tion type or characterization of service, not less than 

5 twice within the first year after separation from the 

6 Armed Forces; 

7 (3) providing information about the Solid Start 

8 program on the website of the Department and in 

9 materials of the Department, especially transition 

10 booklets and other resources; 

11 (4) providing information described in section 

12 4(2) and ensuring calls are truly tailored to the 

13 needs of each veteran’s unique situation by con14 ducting quality assurance tests; and 

15 (5) prioritizing outreach to veterans who have 

16 accessed mental health resources prior to separation 

17 from the Armed Forces. 

18 (b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary of 

19 Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of De20 fense, may carry out the Solid Start program by— 

21 (1) encouraging members of the Armed Forces 

22 who are transitioning to civilian life to authorize al23 ternate points of contact who can be reached should 

24 the member be unavailable during the first year folVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:31 Dec 02, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8819.IH H8819

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1 lowing the separation of the member from the 

2 Armed Forces; 

3 (2) following up missed phone calls with tai4 lored mailings to ensure the veteran still receives 

5 similar information; and 

6 (3) striving to reach out to veterans who sepa7 rated prior to the initiation of the Solid Start pro8 gram to provide similar services to those veterans, 

9 when feasible. 

10 SEC. 6. ASSESSMENT BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY 

11 OFFICE OF SOLID START PROGRAM OF THE 

12 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

13 (a) ASSESSMENT.— 

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

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

16 Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 

17 shall carry out an assessment of the Solid Start pro18 gram of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

19 (2) ELEMENTS.—The assessment required by 

20 paragraph (1) shall analyze the following: 

21 (A) How many veterans have been con22 tacted through the Solid Start program since 

23 the establishment of the program as compared 

24 to how many veterans have not been reached. 


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1 (B) Whether feedback on the Solid Start 

2 program indicates that the program is working. 

3 (C) Whether the Solid Start program is 

4 meeting the purposes described in section 4. 

5 (D) Improvements that could be made to 

6 the Solid Start program. 

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

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

9 shall— 

10 (1) complete the assessment required by such 

11 subsection; and 

12 (2) submit a report on the findings of the as13 sessment to— 

14 (A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

15 and the Committee on Armed Services of the 

16 Senate; and 

17 (B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

18 and the Committee on Armed Services of the 

19 House of Representatives. 

20 SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

21 There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

22 this Act the greater of— 

23 (1) such sums as may be necessary for each fis24 cal year to carry out this Act; or 


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1 (2) the amount expended by the Department of 

2 Veterans Affairs during fiscal year 2020 to carry 

3 out activities of the Solid Start program. 

Æ 


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