the Supportive Services for Veterans Families pro-
gram. 
(6) The effectiveness of outreach for the serv-
ices available to such veterans under the Supportive 
Services for Veterans Families program. 
(7) The location and operating hours of facili-
ties that provide services to such veterans under the 
Supportive Services for Veterans Families program. 
(8) The COVID–19 pandemic and other health 
related issues. 
(9) Such other significant barriers as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
(e) EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF 
COUNSELING.— 
(1) EFFECTS.—In conducting the study under 
subsection (a)(3), the Secretary shall conduct re-
search on the ability to evaluate and assess the po-
tential effects of financial and credit counseling serv-
ices on homeless veterans and veterans experiencing 
housing instability with respect to the following: 
(A) The effects of such services on employ-
ment by comparing the veterans who received 
such services and the veterans who did not re-
ceive such services.
(B) The effects of such services on housing 
status by comparing the veterans who received 
such services and the veterans who did not re-
ceive such services. 
(C) The effects of such services on income 
by comparing the veterans who received such 
services and the veterans who did not receive 
such services. 
(D) The effects of such services on credit 
score by comparing the veterans who received 
such services and the veterans who did not re-
ceive such services. 
(E) The effects of such services on other 
outcomes the Secretary determines appropriate. 
(2) DATA
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.—In car-
rying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
(A) determine the relevant data that is 
available to the Secretary and determine the 
confidence of the Secretary with respect to ac-
cessing any additional data the Secretary may 
require; and 
(B) provide recommendations regarding 
the optimal research or evaluation design that 
would generate the greatest insights and value.
(f) DISCHARGE BY CONTRACT.—The Secretary may 
seek to enter into a contract with a qualified independent 
entity or organization to carry out the study and research 
required under this section, including such an entity or 
organization that is able to access credit scores, data 
maintained by the Internal Revenue Service, and other 
date beneficial to studying income. 
(g) MANDATORY REVIEW
OF DATA
BY CERTAIN 
ELEMENTS OF DEPARTMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that the head of each element of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs specified in paragraph (2) reviews 
the results of the study conducted under subsection 
(a). The head of each such element shall submit to 
the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Oper-
ations and Management the findings of the head 
with respect to the study, including recommenda-
tions regarding what data the Secretary should col-
lect from grantees under the Supportive Services for 
Veterans Families program. 
(2) SPECIFIED
ELEMENTS.—The elements of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs specified in this 
paragraph are the following:
(A) The Advisory Committee on Homeless 
Veterans established under section 2066 of title 
38, United States Code. 
(B) The Advisory Committee on Women 
Veterans established under section 542 of title 
38, United States Code. 
(C) The Advisory Committee on Minority 
Veterans established under section 544 of title 
38, United States Code. 
(D) The Homeless Programs Office of the 
Veterans Health Administration. 
(E) The Office of Tribal Government Rela-
tions of the Department. 
(h) REPORTS.— 
(1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress an interim report on 
the study under subsection (a). 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 30 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
study under subsection (a). The report shall in-
clude—
(A) the findings of the head of each ele-
ment of the Department specified under sub-
section (g)(2); and 
(B) recommendations for such administra-
tive and legislative action as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
(i) DEFINITION.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘homeless veterans and veterans 
experiencing housing instability’’ means veterans 
who are homeless (as that term is defined in sub-
section (a) or (b) of section 103 of the McKinney– 
Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302)). 
(2) The term ‘‘Supportive Services for Veterans 
Families program’’ means the program established 
pursuant to section 2044 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 3. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.—Title 38, 
United States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) In section 1786(d), as added by section 
3006 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, 
M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improve-
ment Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315), by strik-
ing paragraph (3).
(2) In section 3673(f), as added by section 
1023 of such Act, by striking paragraph (3). 
(b) JOHNNY ISAKSON AND DAVID P. ROE, M.D. VET-
ERANS HEALTH CARE AND BENEFITS IMPROVEMENT ACT 
OF 2020.—The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. 
Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 
2020 (Public Law 116–315) is amended as follows: 
(1) In section 3010— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘The 
Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations for such purpose, the 
Secretary’’; and 
(B) by striking subsection (h). 
(2) In section 4201(a), by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) USE OF AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that paragraph (1) is carried out in accord-
ance 
with 
established 
procedures 
for 
reprogrammings or transfers, including with respect
to presenting a request for a reprogramming of 
funds.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives June 15, 2021. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1257 
AN ACT 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to con-
duct a study on the effect of financial and credit 
counseling for homeless veterans and veterans ex-
periencing housing instability, and for other pur-
poses.