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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Solid Start Act of 
2020’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) In 2020, veterans continue to die by suicide 
at higher rates than civilians. Many of those vet-
erans have no ties to the Department of Veterans 
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Affairs, limiting the ability of the Department to 
help in times of crisis. 
(2) The first year after separating from the 
military is a critical time in the transition to civilian 
life for a member of the Armed Forces. Many 
changes occur during that transition, from career 
and location changes to shifts in financial cir-
cumstances and health care coverage. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the United States 
must strive to better serve members of the Armed Forces 
and veterans who are transitioning to civilian life by— 
(1) providing up-to-date information and access 
to resources that such members of the Armed 
Forces may not be aware of; 
(2) supporting the critical time of transition by 
ensuring that mental health needs are met in a time-
ly manner; and 
(3) assisting members of the Armed Forces and 
veterans in accessing newly available services. 
SEC. 4. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to build the capacity of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to efficiently and effectively re-
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spond to the queries and needs of veterans who have 
recently separated from the Armed Forces; and 
(2) to systemically integrate and coordinate ef-
forts to assist veterans, including efforts— 
(A) to proactively reach out to newly sepa-
rated veterans to— 
(i) inform them of their eligibility for 
programs of and benefits provided by the 
Department; and 
(ii) provide them information relating 
to the programs of, and benefits provided 
by, an appropriate veterans agency of a 
State; and 
(B) to connect veterans in crisis to re-
sources that address their immediate needs. 
SEC. 5. ACTIVITIES OF THE SOLID START PROGRAM OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of De-
fense, shall carry out the Solid Start program of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs by— 
(1) collecting up-to-date contact information 
during transition classes or separation counseling for 
all members of the Armed Forces who are sepa-
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rating from the Armed Forces, while explaining the 
existence and purpose of the Solid Start program; 
(2) calling each veteran, regardless of separa-
tion type or characterization of service, not less than 
twice within the first year after separation from the 
Armed Forces; 
(3) providing information about the Solid Start 
program on the website of the Department and in 
materials of the Department, especially transition 
booklets and other resources; 
(4) providing information described in section 
4(2) and ensuring calls are truly tailored to the 
needs of each veteran’s unique situation by con-
ducting quality assurance tests; and 
(5) prioritizing outreach to veterans who have 
accessed mental health resources prior to separation 
from the Armed Forces. 
(b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of De-
fense, may carry out the Solid Start program by— 
(1) encouraging members of the Armed Forces 
who are transitioning to civilian life to authorize al-
ternate points of contact who can be reached should 
the member be unavailable during the first year fol-
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lowing the separation of the member from the 
Armed Forces; 
(2) following up missed phone calls with tai-
lored mailings to ensure the veteran still receives 
similar information; and 
(3) striving to reach out to veterans who sepa-
rated prior to the initiation of the Solid Start pro-
gram to provide similar services to those veterans, 
when feasible. 
SEC. 6. ASSESSMENT BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY 
OFFICE OF SOLID START PROGRAM OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date that 
is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall carry out an assessment of the Solid Start pro-
gram of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The assessment required by 
paragraph (1) shall analyze the following: 
(A) How many veterans have been con-
tacted through the Solid Start program since 
the establishment of the program as compared 
to how many veterans have not been reached. 
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