II 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2740 

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a voluntary national 

directory of veterans to support outreach to veterans, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 31, 2014 

Ms. HEITKAMP introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish 

a voluntary national directory of veterans to support 

outreach to 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. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Connect with Veterans 

5 Act of 2014’’. 

6 SEC. 2. VOLUNTARY NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF VETERANS. 

7 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

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1 fense, shall establish a program to facilitate outreach 

2 to veterans by covered entities. 

3 (2) COVERED ENTITIES.—For purposes of this 

4 section, a covered entity is any of the following: 

5 (A) The Department of Veterans Affairs. 

6 (B) The agency or department of a State 

7 that is the primary agency or department of the 

8 State for the administration of benefits and 

9 services for veterans in the State. 

10 (C) A political subdivision of a State. 

11 (D) An Indian tribe (as defined in section 

12 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu13 cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)). 

14 (3) NATIONAL DIRECTORY.—To carry out the 

15 program required by paragraph (1), the Secretary 

16 shall— 

17 (A) establish a national directory of vet18 erans as described in subsection (b); and 

19 (B) share information in the directory in 

20 accordance with subsection (c). 

21 (b) NATIONAL DIRECTORY.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

23 Affairs shall establish the national directory required 

24 by subsection (a)(3) using information received from 

25 the Secretary of Defense under subsection (d)(4). 


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1 (2) UPDATES.—The Secretary of Veterans Af2 fairs shall ensure that the national directory includes 

3 a mechanism by which a participating individual can 

4 update the information in the national directory that 

5 pertains to the participating individual. 

6 (3) DISENROLLMENT.—The Secretary shall es7 tablish a mechanism by which a participating indi8 vidual can indicate to the Secretary that the indi9 vidual would no longer like to receive information 

10 from participating entities under the program. 

11 (4) REENROLLMENT.—The Secretary shall es12 tablish a mechanism for the inclusion of information 

13 in the national directory of individuals who were pre14 viously participating individuals but who had made 

15 an indication under paragraph (3) and subsequently 

16 indicate that they would like to receive information 

17 from participating entities under the program. 

18 (5) PRIVACY AND SECURITY.—The Secretary 

19 shall take such actions as the Secretary considers 

20 appropriate to protect— 

21 (A) the privacy of individuals participating 

22 in the program; and 

23 (B) the security of the information stored 

24 in the national directory. 


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1 (6) EBENEFITS.—The Secretary of Veterans 

2 Affairs may use the system and architecture of the 

3 eBenefits Internet website of the Department of Vet4 erans Affairs to support and operate the national di5 rectory as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

6 (c) OUTREACH.— 

7 (1) SHARING OF DIRECTORY INFORMATION.— 

8 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

9 paragraph (2), in order to connect participating 

10 individuals with information about the pro11 grams they could be eligible for or services, sup12 port, and information they may be interested in 

13 receiving, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 

14 share, under the program established under 

15 subsection (a)(1), information in the national 

16 directory concerning such individuals with enti17 ties applicable to participating individuals. 

18 (B) ENTITIES APPLICABLE TO PARTICI19 PATING INDIVIDUALS.—For purposes of this 

20 subsection, an entity that is applicable to a par21 ticipating individual is a covered entity from 

22 whom a participating individual has expressed 

23 interest in receiving information under the pro24 gram. 


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1 (C) UPDATED INFORMATION.—In a case in 

2 which a participating individual updates the in3 formation pertaining to the participating indi4 vidual under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary 

5 shall transmit such information to each entity 

6 applicable to the participating individual. 

7 (D) NOTIFICATION OF DISENROLLMENT.— 

8 In a case in which a participating individual in9 dicates to the Secretary under subsection (b)(3) 

10 that the individual would no longer like to re11 ceive information from participating entities 

12 under the program, the Secretary shall inform 

13 each entity applicable to the participating indi14 vidual that the individual would no longer like 

15 to receive information from the entity under the 

16 program. 

17 (2) LIMITATIONS.— 

18 (A) LIMITATIONS ON THE SECRETARY.— 

19 (i) INFORMATION SHARED.—Under 

20 the program, the Secretary of Veterans Af21 fairs may only share from the national di22 rectory the following: 

23 (I) The name of a participating 

24 individual. 


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1 (II) The e-mail address of a par2 ticipating individual. 

3 (III) The postal address of a par4 ticipating individual. 

5 (IV) The phone number of a par6 ticipating individual. 

7 (ii) PROHIBITION ON SALE OF INFOR8 MATION.—The Secretary may not sell any 

9 information collected under this section. 

10 (iii) ENTITIES.—The Secretary may 

11 not share any information collected under 

12 the program with any entity that is not a 

13 participating entity. 

14 (B) LIMITATIONS ON PARTICIPATING ENTI15 TIES.— 

16 (i) SHARING WITH THIRD-PARTY AND

17 FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES.—As a condition of 

18 participation in the program, a partici19 pating entity shall agree not to share any 

20 information the participating entity re21 ceives under the program with any third22 party or for-profit entities. 

23 (ii) PURCHASES OF PRODUCTS OR

24 SERVICES.—As a condition of participation 

25 in the program, a participating entity shall 


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1 agree not to include in any information 

2 sent by the participating entity to a par3 ticipating individual a requirement that the 

4 participating individual or the family of the 

5 participating individual purchase a product 

6 or service. 

7 (iii) POLITICAL COMMUNICATION.—As 

8 a condition of participation in the pro9 gram, a participating entity shall agree not 

10 to use any information received under the 

11 program for any political communication. 

12 (3) DISENROLLMENT BY PARTICIPATING ENTI13 TIES.—The Secretary shall establish a mechanism 

14 by which a participating entity may indicate to the 

15 Secretary that the participating entity would no 

16 longer like to receive information about participating 

17 individuals from the national directory. 

18 (4) SENSE OF CONGRESS.— 

19 (A) CONSOLIDATION OF REQUESTS.—It is 

20 the sense of Congress that covered entities de21 scribed in subsection (a)(2)(C) who are located 

22 in the same region should work together in a 

23 manner such that only one of them requests re24 ceipt of information under the program. 


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1 (B) COLLABORATION.—It is the sense of 

2 Congress that covered entities described in sub3 section (a)(2)(C) should work with third par4 ties, such as veterans service organizations, 

5 military community groups, and other entities 

6 with an interest in assisting veterans, to develop 

7 the information the covered entities send to 

8 participating individuals under the program. 

9 (5) PUBLICITY.—The Secretary shall develop a 

10 plan to publicize the program and inform covered 

11 entities of the benefits of participating in the pro12 gram. 

13 (d) COLLECTION OF CONTACT INFORMATION.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—To each member of the 

15 Armed Forces separating from service in the Armed 

16 Forces, the Secretary of Defense shall provide a 

17 form for the collection of information to be included 

18 in the national directory established under sub19 section (a). 

20 (2) FORM.— 

21 (A) DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary of 

22 Defense shall, in consultation with the Sec23 retary of Veterans Affairs, develop the form 

24 provided under paragraph (1). 


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1 (B) ELEMENTS.—The form developed 

2 under subparagraph (A) shall allow a member 

3 of the Armed Forces who is in the process of 

4 separating from service in the Armed Forces to 

5 indicate the following: 

6 (i) Where the member intends to re7 side after separation. 

8 (ii) How the individual can best be 

9 contacted, such as a telephone number, an 

10 e-mail address, or a postal address. 

11 (iii) For which types of benefits and 

12 services the member would like to receive 

13 communication and outreach, such as 

14 health care, education, employment, and 

15 housing. 

16 (iv) From which of the following the 

17 member would like to receive the commu18 nication and outreach specified under 

19 clause (iii): 

20 (I) The Department of Veterans 

21 Affairs. 

22 (II) The agency or department of 

23 the State in which the member in24 tends to reside after separation that is 

25 the primary agency or department of 


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1 the State for the administration of 

2 benefits and services for veterans in 

3 the State. 

4 (III) A political subdivision of a 

5 State. 

6 (C) NOTICE.—The form developed under 

7 subparagraph (A) shall include notice of the fol8 lowing: 

9 (i) Information provided to agencies 

10 and departments described in subpara11 graph (B)(iv)(III) will only be provided as 

12 authorized and upon request by such agen13 cies and departments. 

14 (ii) Political subdivisions of States 

15 that receive information under the pro16 gram established under subsection (a) 

17 may— 

18 (I) share such information with 

19 such nonprofit organizations as the 

20 political subdivisions consider appro21 priate; and 

22 (II) work with such organizations 

23 to provide the veterans with relevant 

24 information about benefits and serv25 ices offered by such organizations. 


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1 (iii) Information provided on the form 

2 developed under subparagraph (A) will 

3 never be sold, provided to a for-profit enti4 ty, or used to send any sort of political 

5 communication. 

6 (D) MANNER.—The Secretary of Defense 

7 shall ensure that the form provided under para8 graph (1) is not primarily electronic in nature. 

9 (3) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—The Sec10 retary of Defense shall ensure that completion of the 

11 form provided under paragraph (1) is voluntary and 

12 submittal of such form to the Secretary by a mem13 ber of the Armed Forces shall be considered an indi14 cation to the Secretary that the member would like 

15 to receive information from participating entities 

16 under the program. 

17 (4) TRANSMITTAL OF INFORMATION TO SEC18 RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.—Not later than 30 

19 days after the date on which a member of the 

20 Armed Forces who submitted information to the 

21 Secretary of Defense under this subsection separates 

22 from service in the Armed Forces, the Secretary of 

23 Defense shall transmit such information to the Sec24 retary of Veterans Affairs. 


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1 (5) PRIVACY AND SECURITY.—The Secretary of 

2 Defense shall take such actions as the Secretary 

3 considers appropriate to protect— 

4 (A) the privacy of individuals who submit 

5 information under this subsection; and 

6 (B) the security of such information— 

7 (i) while it is in the possession of the 

8 Secretary; and 

9 (ii) while it is in transit to the Sec10 retary of Veterans Affairs. 

11 (6) INTEGRATION WITH TRANSITION ASSIST12 ANCE PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Defense and the 

13 Secretary of Labor shall jointly take such actions as 

14 the secretaries consider appropriate to integrate the 

15 collection of information under this subsection into 

16 the Transition Assistance Program. 

17 (e) REPORT.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

19 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec20 retary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of De21 fense shall jointly submit to the appropriate commit22 tees of Congress a report on the program established 

23 under subsection (a)(1). 


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1 (2) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under 

2 paragraph (1) shall include an examination and as3 sessment of the following: 

4 (A) The signup process and the effective5 ness of the forms developed and provided under 

6 subsection (d). 

7 (B) The ways in which contact information 

8 is transferred from the Secretary of Defense to 

9 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the 

10 program and the plans of the secretaries to 

11 overcome challenges encountered by the secre12 taries in transferring such information. 

13 (C) The number of covered entities de14 scribed in subsection (a)(2)(C) participating in 

15 the program and any challenges they report in 

16 receiving the contact information from the Sec17 retary of Veterans Affairs under the program. 

18 (D) The effectiveness of efforts of the Sec19 retary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 

20 Defense to protect the personal information of 

21 participating individuals. 

22 (E) The effectiveness of efforts of covered 

23 entities described in subsection (a)(2)(C) to 

24 protect the personal information of partici25 pating individuals. 


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1 (F) Whether additional limitations on the 

2 use of information collected under the program 

3 are necessary to protect participating individ4 uals from unwanted contact, or contact that is 

5 inconsistent with the program. 

6 (G) Whether participating individuals are 

7 benefitting by participating in the program and 

8 whether changing the program would improve 

9 such benefits. 

10 (H) The overall participation in the pro11 gram, utilization of the program, and how such 

12 participation and utilization could be improved. 

13 (I) Such other matters as the secretaries 

14 consider appropriate. 

15 (3) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS

16 DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appro17 priate committees of Congress’’ means the following: 

18 (A) The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

19 the Committee on Armed Services, and the 

20 Subcommittee on Military Construction, Vet21 erans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the 

22 Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 

23 (B) The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

24 the Committee on Armed Services, and the 

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1 erans Affairs and Related Agencies of the Com2 mittee on Appropriations of the House of Rep3 resentatives. 

4 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

5 (1) PARTICIPATING ENTITY.—The term ‘‘par6 ticipating entity’’ means a covered entity that has 

7 indicated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that 

8 the covered entity would like to receive information 

9 about participating individuals from the national di10 rectory and has made no subsequent indication that 

11 the covered entity would like to stop receiving such 

12 information. 

13 (2) PARTICIPATING INDIVIDUAL.—The term 

14 ‘‘participating individual’’ means an individual with 

15 respect to whom information is stored in the na16 tional directory and who has indicated to the Sec17 retary of Veterans Affairs or the Secretary of De18 fense that the individual would like to receive infor19 mation from participating entities under the pro20 gram and has made no subsequent indication that 

21 the individual would like to stop receiving such infor22 mation. 

Æ 


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