IB 
Union Calendar No. 530 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4635 
[Report No. 115–687] 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 13, 2017 
Mr. COFFMAN (for himself and Ms. ESTY of Connecticut) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
MAY 18, 2018 
Additional sponsors: Mr. COLE, Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania, Mr. HIMES, 
Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. BISHOP of Michigan, Mr. POLIQUIN, Mrs. DINGELL, 
Ms. MOORE, Mr. O’ROURKE, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. RUTHER-
FORD, Mr. KIND, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. BILIRAKIS, 
Miss GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N of Puerto Rico, Mr. KILMER, Mr. COURTNEY, 
Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mr. 
PETERS, Miss RICE of New York, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. BOST, Ms. SHEA- 
PORTER, and Mr. SOTO 
MAY 18, 2018 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on December 13, 2017] 
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A BILL 
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. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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 prac-
ticable, the Secretary shall seek to recruit women peer sup-
port 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 em-
phasize facilitating peer support counseling for women vet-
erans who are eligible for counseling and services under sec-
tion 1720D of this title, have post-traumatic stress disorder 
or suffer from another mental health condition, are homeless 
or at risk of becoming homeless, or are otherwise at in-
creased risk of suicide, as determined by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(C) The Secretary shall conduct outreach to inform 
women veterans about the program and the assistance 
available under this paragraph. 
‘‘(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, organi-
zations 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 counselors, 
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 additional 
funds are authorized to be appropriated by reason of such 
paragraph. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
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a report on the peer support counseling program under sec-
tion 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, as amended 
by this section. Such report shall include— 
(1) the number of peer support counselors in the 
program; 
(2) an assessment of the effectiveness of the pro-
gram; and 
(3) a description of the oversight of the program. 
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