I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5904 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve services provided by 

the Department of Veterans Affairs for veteran families, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 6, 2023 

Ms. PEREZ (for herself and Mr. JAMES) introduced the following bill 

OCTOBER 25, 2023 

Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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 amend title 38, United States Code, to improve services 

provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for veteran families, 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 ‘‘Helping Heroes Act 

5 of 2023’’. 

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1 SEC. 2. APPOINTMENT OF FAMILY COORDINATORS TO MED2 ICAL CENTERS OF DEPARTMENT OF VET3 ERANS AFFAIRS; ESTABLISHMENT OF FAMILY 

4 SUPPORT PROGRAM. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 

6 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

7 the following new sections (and conforming the table of 

8 sections at the beginning of such chapter accordingly): 

9 ‘‘§ 1709D. Appointment of family coordinators to med10 ical centers 

11 ‘‘(a) APPOINTMENT OF FAMILY COORDINATORS.— 

12 The Secretary shall appoint not fewer than one family co13 ordinator to each medical center of the Department. Each 

14 family coordinator shall be responsible for assessing the 

15 needs of families of eligible veterans located in the geo16 graphic area served by each such medical center and con17 necting such families with appropriate supportive services. 

18 ‘‘(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—(1) Except as provided in 

19 paragraph (2), to be eligible for an appointment under 

20 subsection (a), an individual shall— 

21 ‘‘(A) be a social worker licensed, registered, or 

22 certified in accordance with the requirements of any 

23 State; and 

24 ‘‘(B) have earned a graduate degree in social 

25 work or a related field. 

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1 ‘‘(2) The Secretary may waive the qualification re2 quirements described in paragraph (1), as the Secretary 

3 determines appropriate. 

4 ‘‘(c) DUTIES.—Each family coordinator appointed 

5 pursuant to subsection (a) shall be responsible for— 

6 ‘‘(1) assessing the needs of families of eligible 

7 veterans located in the geographic area served by the 

8 medical center to which such family coordinator is 

9 appointed using evidence-based strategies; 

10 ‘‘(2) building positive relationships with such 

11 families; 

12 ‘‘(3) referring eligible veterans to local, State, 

13 and Federal entities that support such families, as 

14 the family coordinator determines appropriate; 

15 ‘‘(4) developing and maintaining a list of— 

16 ‘‘(A) supportive services offered by the 

17 medical center to which such family coordinator 

18 is appointed; and 

19 ‘‘(B) supportive services offered at reduced 

20 or no cost by non-Department facilities located 

21 in the geographic area served by such medical 

22 center; and 

23 ‘‘(5) developing and maintaining on a publicly 

24 available Internet website of the Department a list 

25 of supportive services available to eligible veterans 

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1 located in such geographic area who are enrolled in 

2 the patient enrollment system under section 1705(a) 

3 of this title. 

4 ‘‘(d) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall conduct out5 reach to ensure that the following are informed of family 

6 coordinators at each medical center of the Department: 

7 ‘‘(1) Eligible veterans who are enrolled in such 

8 patient enrollment system. 

9 ‘‘(2) Employees of the Department. 

10 ‘‘(3) State, local, and Federal entities to which 

11 a family coordinator may refer an eligible veteran 

12 pursuant to subsection (c)(3). 

13 ‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

14 ‘‘(1) The term ‘eligible veteran’ means a dis15 abled veteran (as defined in section 4211 of this 

16 title) with a service-connected disability rated at 70 

17 percent or more. 

18 ‘‘(2) The term ‘supportive services’ has the 

19 meaning given such term in section 1709E of this 

20 title. 

21 ‘‘§ 1709E. Family Support Program 

22 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—(1) There is established in 

23 the Department a program to be known as the ‘Family 

24 Support Program’ (in this section referred to as the ‘Pro25 gram’) under which the Secretary shall furnish supportive 

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1 services to eligible veterans, eligible children, and family 

2 members of eligible veterans. 

3 ‘‘(2) To carry out the Program, the Secretary shall— 

4 ‘‘(A) provide supportive services through med5 ical centers of the Department; 

6 ‘‘(B) collaborate with relevant State, local, and 

7 Federal entities to provide supportive services; and 

8 ‘‘(C) engage in other activities in support of the 

9 Program, as the Secretary determines appropriate. 

10 ‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary may carry out the Program 

11 by entering into contracts with or awarding grants to eligi12 ble entities to provide supportive services to eligible vet13 erans, eligible children, and family members of eligible vet14 erans. 

15 ‘‘(B) The Secretary shall offer to any such eligible 

16 entity awarded a contract or grant under subparagraph 

17 (A) training and technical assistance regarding the plan18 ning, development, and provision of supportive services. 

19 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to enter 

20 into a contract with, or receive a grant provided by the 

21 Secretary under subsection (a)(3)(A), an entity shall be 

22 a public or non-profit entity that is not an entity of the 

23 Department. 

24 ‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.—An eligible entity desiring a 

25 contract or grant under such subsection shall submit to 

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1 the Secretary an application in such form and containing 

2 such information and assurances as the Secretary deter3 mines appropriate, which shall include— 

4 ‘‘(1) a description of each supportive service 

5 proposed to be provided to eligible veterans, eligible 

6 children, and family members of eligible veterans; 

7 and 

8 ‘‘(2) evidence of a capacity to serve families of 

9 veterans in a manner that is trauma-informed and 

10 culturally and linguistically appropriate. 

11 ‘‘(d) OVERSIGHT BY SECRETARY.—As a condition of 

12 being awarded a contract or grant under such subsection, 

13 an eligible entity shall agree to permit the Secretary to 

14 conduct oversight regarding— 

15 ‘‘(1) the use of funds provided under such con16 tract or grant; and 

17 ‘‘(2) the quality of supportive services to be 

18 provided pursuant to such contract or grant. 

19 ‘‘(e) PUBLIC NOTICE.—The Secretary shall publish 

20 the requirements for eligibility for a contract or grant 

21 under this section on a publicly available Internet website 

22 of the Department. 

23 ‘‘(f) COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS OF

24 THE DEPARTMENT.—The Secretary shall share best prac25 tices with, and facilitate referrals of, eligible veterans, eliVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:38 Nov 02, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5904.IH H5904
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1 gible children, and family members of eligible veterans, as 

2 appropriate, from the Program to other programs of the 

3 Department, including the program described in section 

4 1720G(b) of this title. 

5 ‘‘(g) ANNUAL REPORT FOR CONTRACT OR GRANT

6 RECIPIENTS.—Any eligible entity awarded a contract or 

7 grant under this section shall, not later than one year 

8 after the date of the award of such contract or grant, and 

9 annually thereafter during the period covered by such con10 tract or grant, submit to the Secretary a report that de11 scribes the supportive services provided during the year 

12 covered by such report. 

13 ‘‘(h) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall conduct out14 reach to ensure that the following are informed of the sup15 portive services available under the Program: 

16 ‘‘(1) Eligible veterans who are enrolled in the 

17 patient enrollment system under section 1705(a) of 

18 this title. 

19 ‘‘(2) Employees of the Department. 

20 ‘‘(3) State, local, and Federal entities with 

21 which the Secretary collaborates pursuant to sub22 section (a)(2)(B). 

23 ‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

24 ‘‘(1) The terms ‘eligible child’ means an indi25 vidual who— 

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1 ‘‘(A) is a ward, child (including stepchild), 

2 grandchild, or sibling (including stepsibling or 

3 halfsibling) of an eligible veteran; and 

4 ‘‘(B) is less than 18 years of age. 

5 ‘‘(2) The term ‘eligible veteran’ has the mean6 ing given such term in section 1709D of this title. 

7 ‘‘(3) The term ‘supportive services’ means serv8 ices that address social, emotional, mental health, 

9 career-readiness, or other needs, including— 

10 ‘‘(A) in the case of an eligible child— 

11 ‘‘(i) peer-support programs; 

12 ‘‘(ii) assistance completing college ad13 mission and financial aid applications, in14 cluding the Free Application for Federal 

15 Student Aid described in section 483(a) of 

16 the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 

17 1090), and accessing veterans’ education 

18 benefits (as defined under section 

19 480(c)(2) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1087vv)) 

20 to which such eligible child may be enti21 tled; and 

22 ‘‘(iii) after-school care and summer 

23 learning opportunities; 

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1 ‘‘(B) in the case of an eligible veteran, as2 sistance transitioning from active duty in the 

3 Armed Forces to veteran status; 

4 ‘‘(C) assistance with accessing workforce 

5 development programs, including programs pro6 viding the activities authorized under section 

7 129 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor8 tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164), and programs of 

9 vocational rehabilitation services, including pro10 grams authorized under title I of the Rehabili11 tation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 720 et seq.); 

12 ‘‘(D) wellness services, including mental, 

13 emotional, behavioral, and physical health and 

14 nutritional counseling and assistance; 

15 ‘‘(E) sports and recreation activities; 

16 ‘‘(F) dependent care, including home and 

17 community-based services; 

18 ‘‘(G) resources for low-income families; 

19 and 

20 ‘‘(H) any other services or activities the 

21 Secretary considers appropriate to address such 

22 needs.’’. 

23 (b) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 

24 (1) REPORT ON POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VET25 ERAN FAMILY NEEDS.—Not later than 90 days after 

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1 the date on which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

2 commences the Family Support Program established 

3 under section 1709E of title 38, United States Code, 

4 as added by subsection (a), the Secretary shall sub5 mit to Congress a report on the potential need for 

6 additional resources for family members of eligible 

7 veterans who are not eligible children. 

8 (2) REPORT ON FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM.— 

9 Not later than one year after such date, the Sec10 retary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ 

11 Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Sen12 ate a report on the progress of such Family Support 

13 Program that includes the following: 

14 (A) The number of eligible veterans, eligi15 ble children, and family members of eligible vet16 erans who received supportive services under 

17 such Family Support Program. 

18 (B) The demographic data of eligible vet19 erans and family members of eligible veterans, 

20 including— 

21 (i) with respect to family members of 

22 eligible veterans, the relationship to the eli23 gible veteran; 

24 (ii) age; 

25 (iii) race; 

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1 (iv) ethnicity; 

2 (v) gender; 

3 (vi) disability, where applicable; and 

4 (vii) proficiency in the English lan5 guage and whether a language other than 

6 English is spoken at home. 

7 (C) A summary of the supportive services 

8 carried out under such Family Support Pro9 gram and the costs to the Department of Vet10 erans Affairs of such supportive services. 

11 (D) An assessment, measured by a survey 

12 of participants in such Family Support Pro13 gram, of whether participation in such Family 

14 Support Program resulted in positive outcomes 

15 for eligible veterans, eligible children, and fam16 ily members of eligible veterans. 

17 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

18 are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such 

19 sums as may be necessary to carry out sections 1709D 

20 and 1709E of title 38, United States Code, as added by 

21 subsection (a). 

22 (d) DEADLINES.— 

23 (1) FAMILY COORDINATOR APPOINTMENTS.— 

24 The Secretary shall make the appointments required 

25 under section 1709D of such title, as added by such 

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1 subsection, not later than one year after the date of 

2 the enactment of this Act. 

3 (2) DATE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM FULLY

4 OPERATIONAL.—The Secretary shall ensure that the 

5 Family Support Program established under section 

6 1709E of such title, as added by such subsection, is 

7 fully operational not later one year after such date. 

8 SEC. 3. SURVEY ON NEEDS OF DISABLED VETERANS AND 

9 FAMILIES OF DISABLED VETERANS. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 

11 date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter 

12 for five years, the Secretary shall conduct a survey of dis13 abled veterans and families of disabled veterans to identify 

14 and better understand the needs of such disabled veterans 

15 and such families. 

16 (b) CONTENT OF SURVEY.—Such survey shall include 

17 questions regarding— 

18 (1) the types and quality of support disabled 

19 veterans receive from the children of such disabled 

20 veterans; and 

21 (2) the unmet needs of such children. 

22 (c) REPORT ON SURVEY.—Not later than 90 days 

23 after the date on which the Secretary completes each such 

24 survey, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 

25 Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 

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1 Senate and the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

2 House of Representatives and the Senate a report that 

3 includes the findings of each such survey. 

4 SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF INFORMATION REGARDING SUP5 PORTIVE SERVICES IN TRANSITION ASSIST6 ANCE PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF DE7 FENSE. 

8 Not later than one year after the date of the enact9 ment of this Act, the Secretary shall include information 

10 regarding supportive services available to members of the 

11 Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty 

12 and their families, including mental health and other serv13 ices for children, in the Transition Assistance Program of 

14 the Department of Defense under sections 1142 and 1144 

15 of title 10, United States Code. 

16 SEC. 5. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. 

17 Programs or activities receiving funds authorized to 

18 be appropriated under section 2(c) of this Act may not 

19 discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, 

20 religion, sex, gender, disability status, or age. 

21 SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 

22 In this Act: 

23 (1) The term ‘‘disabled veteran’’ has the mean24 ing given such term in section 4211 of title 38, 

25 United States Code. 

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1 (2) The terms ‘‘eligible veteran’’ and ‘‘eligible 

2 child’’ have the meaning given such terms in sec3 tions 1709D and 1709E of such title, respectively, 

4 as added by section 2(a). 

5 (3) The term ‘‘supportive services’’ has the 

6 meaning given such term in section 1709E of such 

7 title, as added by such section. 

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