I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5152 

To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a program to ensure, under 

certain conditions, that members of the Armed Forces are automatically 

enrolled in benefits and services under the laws administered by the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs for which such members are eligible. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 4, 2023 

Mr. NEGUSE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ 

Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a program 

to ensure, under certain conditions, that members of 

the Armed Forces are automatically enrolled in benefits 

and services under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for which such members are 

eligible. 

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


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1 SECTION 1. PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO 

2 ENROLL CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 

3 FORCES IN BENEFITS AND SERVICES UNDER 

4 THE LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SEC5 RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the 

7 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De8 fense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Af9 fairs, shall carry out a program to— 

10 (1) identify covered benefits, if any, for which 

11 each covered member of an Armed Force is eligible 

12 to enroll; 

13 (2) notify each covered member of the relevant 

14 covered benefits identified under subparagraph (A); 

15 and 

16 (3) expect as provided in subsection (e), ensure 

17 such covered member is enrolled in such covered 

18 benefits. 

19 (b) NOTIFICATION TO SECRETARY OF VETERANS AF20 FAIRS.—With respect to any covered member of an Armed 

21 Force the Secretary of Defense determines is eligible for 

22 enrollment in a covered benefit, such Secretary shall, not 

23 later than 90 days before the date on which such covered 

24 member is separated from service, submit to the Secretary 

25 of Veterans Affairs a notification that includes— 


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1 (1) the name, contact information, and military 

2 service details of such covered member; 

3 (2) the anticipated date on which such covered 

4 member will be separated from service; and 

5 (3) a description of any military occupational 

6 specialty and training such covered member received 

7 during service. 

8 (c) OUTREACH REQUIRED.—Not later than 60 days 

9 after any date on which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

10 receives a notification under subsection (b), such Sec11 retary shall contact the covered member of an Armed 

12 Force described in such notification and provide materials 

13 and resources relating to covered benefits. 

14 (d) INFORMATION SHARING.—The Secretary of De15 fense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Af16 fairs, shall establish procedures to— 

17 (1) share necessary information to facilitate the 

18 automatic enrollment process under subsection (a); 

19 and 

20 (2) ensure the secure and confidential transfer 

21 of data during any such sharing of necessary infor22 mation. 

23 (e) OPT-OUT PROVISION.—The decision to enroll in 

24 a covered benefit pursuant to subsection (a) shall be at 


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1 the election of the relevant covered member of an Armed 

2 Force. 

3 (f) WORKING GROUP.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in 

5 consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 

6 shall establish a working group to address potential 

7 barriers and challenges in implementing the auto8 matic enrollment process. The working group shall 

9 consist of representatives from the Department of 

10 Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 

11 other relevant stakeholders as determined by such 

12 Secretaries. 

13 (2) DUTIES.—The working group shall be re14 sponsible for— 

15 (A) identifying potential barriers to imple16 mentation, such as legal, technological, or ad17 ministrative challenges; and 

18 (B) developing strategies and recommenda19 tions to overcome such potential barriers and 

20 ensure the successful implementation of auto21 matic enrollments. 

22 (3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 

23 the date on which such Secretaries establish the 

24 working group under paragraph (1), the head of 

25 such working group shall submit to Congress a reVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:56 Aug 22, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5152.IH H5152

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1 port that includes findings, recommendations, and 

2 proposed timelines for implementation. 

3 (g) GAO REPORT ON NOTICE OF AUTOMATIC EN4 ROLLMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

5 the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 

6 United States shall submit to Congress a report con7 taining the results of a study to determine the best meth8 ods for the Secretary of Defense to provide notice under 

9 subsection (a)(2). In making such determination, the 

10 Comptroller General shall consider needs of veterans 

11 based on— 

12 (1) age; 

13 (2) residence in urban areas; and 

14 (3) residence in rural areas. 

15 (h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

16 (1) The term ‘‘covered benefit’’ means a benefit 

17 or service under the laws administered by the Sec18 retary of Veterans Affairs. 

19 (2) The term ‘‘covered member of an Armed 

20 Force’’ means a member of the Armed Forces par21 ticipating in the Transition Assistance Program of 

22 the Department of Defense under section 1142 and 

23 1144 of title 10, United States Code. 

Æ 


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