I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5973 
To direct the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, to establish a pilot program to help State prisons and local 
jails improve the documentation of incarcerated veterans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2020 
Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma (for herself, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. COLE, 
Ms. SHERRILL, Mr. CROW, Mr. CASE, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mrs. 
MURPHY of Florida, Ms. NORTON, and Mrs. RODGERS of Washington) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary 
A BILL 
To direct the Attorney General, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to establish a pilot pro-
gram to help State prisons and local jails improve the 
documentation of incarcerated veterans. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Approximately 200,000 veterans are incar-
cerated in the United States. 
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(2) More than half of all veterans involved in 
the criminal justice system suffer from a mental 
health condition or substance abuse disorder. 
(3) Such veterans may be at a greater risk for 
suicide. 
(4) Veterans released from incarceration have 
specialized needs and face different issues relating to 
reentry into society. 
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE DOCUMENTATION OF 
INCARCERATED VETERANS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Attorney General, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall 
carry out a pilot program to provide grants and technical 
assistance to State prisons and local jails to improve docu-
mentation of whether inmates of such institutions are vet-
erans. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purposes of the pilot program 
are the following: 
(1) To assist the Secretary in providing benefits 
to incarcerated veterans under laws administered by 
the Secretary. 
(2) To assist veterans affairs offices of States 
in providing benefits to incarcerated veterans under 
laws administered by such offices. 
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(3) To increase the number of veterans involved 
in the criminal justice system whose cases are di-
verted to veterans treatment courts. 
(c) PRIORITY.—In selecting grant recipients under 
the pilot program, the Attorney General shall give priority 
to State prisons and local jails located in— 
(1) States that contain the greatest populations 
of veterans per capita; 
(2) States with the highest rates of veterans liv-
ing in poverty; and 
(3) jurisdictions that contain a veterans treat-
ment court or veterans diversion program. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘vet-
erans treatment court’’ and ‘‘veterans diversion program’’ 
mean a State or local court that is participating in the 
veterans treatment court program (as defined in section 
2991(i)(1) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets 
Act of 1968; 34 U.S.C. 10651(i)(1)). 
Æ 
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