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 Com-
mittee 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 jurisdic-
tion 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 Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs for which such members are 
eligible. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO 
ENROLL CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES IN BENEFITS AND SERVICES UNDER 
THE LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SEC-
RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs, shall carry out a program to— 
(1) identify covered benefits, if any, for which 
each covered member of an Armed Force is eligible 
to enroll; 
(2) notify each covered member of the relevant 
covered benefits identified under subparagraph (A); 
and 
(3) expect as provided in subsection (e), ensure 
such covered member is enrolled in such covered 
benefits. 
(b) NOTIFICATION TO SECRETARY OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS.—With respect to any covered member of an Armed 
Force the Secretary of Defense determines is eligible for 
enrollment in a covered benefit, such Secretary shall, not 
later than 90 days before the date on which such covered 
member is separated from service, submit to the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs a notification that includes— 
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(1) the name, contact information, and military 
service details of such covered member; 
(2) the anticipated date on which such covered 
member will be separated from service; and 
(3) a description of any military occupational 
specialty and training such covered member received 
during service. 
(c) OUTREACH REQUIRED.—Not later than 60 days 
after any date on which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
receives a notification under subsection (b), such Sec-
retary shall contact the covered member of an Armed 
Force described in such notification and provide materials 
and resources relating to covered benefits. 
(d) INFORMATION SHARING.—The Secretary of De-
fense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs, shall establish procedures to— 
(1) share necessary information to facilitate the 
automatic enrollment process under subsection (a); 
and 
(2) ensure the secure and confidential transfer 
of data during any such sharing of necessary infor-
mation. 
(e) OPT-OUT PROVISION.—The decision to enroll in 
a covered benefit pursuant to subsection (a) shall be at 
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the election of the relevant covered member of an Armed 
Force. 
(f) WORKING GROUP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
shall establish a working group to address potential 
barriers and challenges in implementing the auto-
matic enrollment process. The working group shall 
consist of representatives from the Department of 
Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 
other relevant stakeholders as determined by such 
Secretaries. 
(2) DUTIES.—The working group shall be re-
sponsible for— 
(A) identifying potential barriers to imple-
mentation, such as legal, technological, or ad-
ministrative challenges; and 
(B) developing strategies and recommenda-
tions to overcome such potential barriers and 
ensure the successful implementation of auto-
matic enrollments. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date on which such Secretaries establish the 
working group under paragraph (1), the head of 
such working group shall submit to Congress a re-
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port that includes findings, recommendations, and 
proposed timelines for implementation. 
(g) GAO REPORT ON NOTICE OF AUTOMATIC EN-
ROLLMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to Congress a report con-
taining the results of a study to determine the best meth-
ods for the Secretary of Defense to provide notice under 
subsection (a)(2). In making such determination, the 
Comptroller General shall consider needs of veterans 
based on— 
(1) age; 
(2) residence in urban areas; and 
(3) residence in rural areas. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered benefit’’ means a benefit 
or service under the laws administered by the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered member of an Armed 
Force’’ means a member of the Armed Forces par-
ticipating in the Transition Assistance Program of 
the Department of Defense under section 1142 and 
1144 of title 10, United States Code. 
Æ 
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