IIB 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4635 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JUNE 14, 2018 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
AN ACT 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the 
number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling 
for women veterans, and for other purposes. 
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. PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR 
WOMEN VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1720F(j) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4)(A) As part of the counseling program under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall emphasize appointing peer 
support counselors for women veterans. To the degree 
practicable, the Secretary shall seek to recruit women peer 
support counselors with expertise in— 
‘‘(i) female gender-specific issues and services; 
‘‘(ii) the provision of information about services 
and benefits provided under laws administered by 
the Secretary; or 
‘‘(iii) employment mentoring. 
‘‘(B) To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall 
emphasize facilitating peer support counseling for women 
veterans who are eligible for counseling and services under 
section 1720D of this title, have post-traumatic stress dis-
order or suffer from another mental health condition, are 
homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, or are otherwise 
at increased risk of suicide, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary shall conduct outreach to inform 
women veterans about the program and the assistance 
available under this paragraph. 
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‘‘(D) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary 
shall coordinate with such community organizations, State 
and local governments, institutions of higher education, 
chambers of commerce, local business organizations, orga-
nizations that provide legal assistance, and other organiza-
tions as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(E) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary 
shall provide adequate training for peer support coun-
selors, including training carried out under the national 
program of training required by section 304(c) of the 
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 
2010 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note).’’. 
(b) FUNDING.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall carry out paragraph (4) of section 1720F(j) of title 
38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), using 
funds otherwise made available to the Secretary. No addi-
tional funds are authorized to be appropriated by reason 
of such paragraph. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives a report on the peer support counseling program 
under section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, 
as amended by this section. Such report shall include— 
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(1) the number of peer support counselors in 
the program; 
(2) an assessment of the effectiveness of the 
program; and 
(3) a description of the oversight of the pro-
gram. 
Passed the House of Representatives June 13, 2018. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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