H. R. 2617—1018 
(3) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities providing 
or coordinating the provision of recovery services for substance 
use disorder for veterans with substance-use dependency who 
face barriers in accessing substance-use recovery services from 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(4) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that, to the extent practicable, grant amounts awarded under 
paragraph (1) are equitably distributed across geographic 
regions, including rural and Tribal communities. 
(5) REPORT ON SERVICES PROVIDED.—The Secretary shall 
require each eligible entity awarded a grant under paragraph 
(1) to submit to the Secretary a report that describes the 
services provided or coordinated with amounts under such 
grant. 
(e) REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIPT OF GRANTS.— 
(1) NOTIFICATION THAT SERVICES ARE FROM DEPARTMENT.— 
Each entity receiving a grant under this section shall notify 
the recipients of services provided pursuant to grant amounts 
that such services are being paid for, in whole or in part, 
by the Department. 
(2) COORDINATION.—An entity receiving a grant under this 
section shall— 
(A) coordinate with the Secretary with respect to the 
provision of clinical services to eligible individuals or any 
other provisions of law regarding the delivery of health 
care by the Secretary; 
(B) inform each veteran who receives assistance under 
this section from the entity of the ability of the veteran 
to apply for enrollment in the patient enrollment system 
of the Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United 
States Code; and 
(C) if such a veteran wishes to so enroll, inform the 
veteran of a point of contact at the Department who can 
assist the veteran in such enrollment. 
(f) GRANT APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity seeking the award of 
a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an 
application therefor in such form, in such manner, and con-
taining such commitments and information as the Secretary 
considers necessary to carry out this section. 
(2) CONTENTS OF APPLICATION.—Each application submitted 
by an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall contain the 
following: 
(A) A description of the recovery services for substance 
use disorder proposed to be provided by the eligible entity 
under the pilot program and the identified need for those 
services. 
(B) A description of the types of veterans with sub-
stance use disorder proposed to be provided such recovery 
services. 
(C) An estimate of the number of veterans with sub-
stance use disorder proposed to be provided such recovery 
services. 
(D) Evidence of the experience of the eligible entity 
in providing such recovery services to veterans with sub-
stance use disorder.
H. R. 2617—1019 
(E) A description of the managerial capacity of the 
eligible entity— 
(i) to assess continually the needs of veterans with 
substance use disorder for such recovery services; 
(ii) to coordinate the provision of such recovery 
services with services provided by the Department; 
and 
(iii) to tailor such recovery services to the needs 
of veterans with substance use disorder. 
(3) CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish criteria 
for the selection of eligible entities to be awarded grants 
under this section. 
(B) ELEMENTS.—Criteria established under subpara-
graph (A) with respect to an eligible entity shall include 
the following: 
(i) Relevant accreditation as may be required by 
each State in which the eligible entity operates. 
(ii) Experience coordinating care or providing treat-
ment for veterans or members of the Armed Forces. 
(g) PARTICIPATION.—Participation by a veteran in the pilot pro-
gram shall not affect any eligibility status or requirements for 
such veteran with respect to other benefits or services provided 
by the Department. 
(h) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide training and 
technical assistance to eligible entities awarded grants under 
this section regarding the planning, development, and provision 
of recovery services for substance use disorder under this sec-
tion. 
(2) PROVISION OF TRAINING.—The Secretary may provide 
the training required under paragraph (1) directly or through 
grants or contracts with such public or nonprofit private entities 
as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of this 
section, including through grants awarded under section 2064 
of title 38, United States Code. 
(i) COLLECTION OF INFORMATION.—To the extent practicable, 
the Secretary may collect information from an eligible entity 
awarded a grant under this section relating to a substance use 
disorder of a veteran participating in the pilot program for inclusion 
in the electronic health record of the Department for such veteran 
for the sole purpose of improving care provided to such veteran. 
(j) STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a study on 
the effectiveness of the pilot program in meeting the needs 
of veterans with substance use disorder. 
(2) COMPARISON.—In conducting the study required by 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall compare the results of the 
pilot program with other programs of the Department dedicated 
to the delivery to veterans of recovery services for substance 
use disorder. 
(3) CRITERIA.—In making the comparison required by para-
graph (2), to the extent data is available, the Secretary shall 
examine the following: 
(A) The satisfaction of veterans targeted by the pro-
grams described in paragraph (2).
H. R. 2617—1020 
(B) The health status of such veterans, including 
mental health. 
(C) The degree to which such programs encourage such 
veterans to engage in productive activity. 
(D) The number of veterans using such programs, 
disaggregated by— 
(i) veterans who have received health care provided 
by the Department during the two-year period pre-
ceding the conduct of the study; 
(ii) veterans who have not received health care 
provided by the Department during such period; 
(iii) veterans eligible for health care provided by 
the Department, disaggregated by— 
(I) veterans eligible for services from the 
Department similar to services provided under the 
pilot program; and 
(II) veterans not eligible for such services from 
the Department; and 
(iv) veterans ineligible for health care provided 
by the Department. 
(E) The number of veterans who are still homeless 
or at risk of becoming homeless one year after completion 
of receipt of recovery services under such programs. 
(F) The number of veterans who still have a substance 
use disorder that negatively impacts their daily living and 
ability to maintain independent housing 180 days after 
discharge from receipt of services provided under this sec-
tion. 
(G) The status of the discharge from the Armed Forces 
of veterans covered under this paragraph. 
(4) REPORTS.—Not later than one year after the date on 
which the first grant is awarded under this section, and 
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
on the results of the study required by paragraph (1). 
(k) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means any 
of the following: 
(A) An incorporated private institution or foundation— 
(i) no part of the net earnings of which inures 
to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, 
or individual; 
(ii) that has a governing board that is responsible 
for the operation of the recovery services for substance 
use disorder provided under this section; and 
(iii) that is approved by the Secretary with respect 
to financial responsibility. 
(B) A for-profit limited partnership, the sole general 
partner of which is an organization meeting the require-
ments of subparagraph (A). 
(C) A corporation wholly owned and controlled by an 
organization meeting the requirements of subparagraph 
(A). 
(D) A tribally designated housing entity (as defined 
in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance 
and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)).
H. R. 2617—1021 
(2) SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.—The term ‘‘substance use 
disorder’’, with respect to a veteran, means the veteran has 
been diagnosed with, or is seeking treatment for, substance 
use disorder, as determined by the Secretary. 
SEC. 312. REPORT BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED 
STATES ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR VETERANS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than three years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the House of Representatives a report on the availability of afford-
able housing for veterans who have or are participating in any 
program administered by the Homeless Programs Office of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include, with respect to the one-year period preceding the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the following: 
(1) The number of veterans using housing vouchers under 
the program carried out under section 8(o)(19) of the United 
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) (commonly 
referred to as ‘‘HUD–VASH’’). 
(2) The number of veterans who were allocated a housing 
voucher described in paragraph (1) but who have been unable 
to attain permanent housing. 
(3) The number of available housing vouchers described 
in paragraph (1) that are unused for any reason. 
(4) Available data regarding the number of veterans who 
were discharged from transitional housing provided using 
amounts provided under sections 2061 and 2012 of title 38, 
United States Code, and did not transition to permanent 
housing due to a shortage of— 
(A) case managers under the program described in 
paragraph (1); 
(B) housing vouchers described in such paragraph; or 
(C) housing that meets the requirements and limita-
tions with respect to such vouchers. 
(c) DISAGGREGATION.—The contents of the report described in 
paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of subsection (b) shall be disaggregated 
by veterans with a household income that does not exceed— 
(1) the area median income; 
(2) 80 percent of the area median income; 
(3) 50 percent of the area median income; and 
(4) 30 percent of the area median income. 
SEC. 313. STUDY ON FINANCIAL AND CREDIT COUNSELING. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
conduct a comprehensive study on— 
(1) the use of and variation of financial and credit coun-
seling services available for homeless veterans and veterans 
experiencing housing instability; 
(2) barriers to accessing financial and credit counseling 
for such veterans; and 
(3) the ability to evaluate and assess the potential effects 
of financial and credit counseling for such veterans with respect 
to housing, employment, income, and other outcomes the Sec-
retary determines appropriate.
H. R. 2617—1022 
(b) METHODOLOGY.—In conducting the study under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) survey— 
(A) homeless veterans and veterans experiencing 
housing instability who are enrolled in the Supportive Serv-
ices for Veterans Families program; 
(B) such veterans who do not seek or receive the care 
or services under such program or a similar program; 
(C) grantees of the Supportive Services for Veterans 
Families program; 
(D) financial and credit counselors; and 
(E) persons who are subject matter experts regarding 
the use of financial and credit counseling services that 
the Secretary determines appropriate; and 
(2) administer the survey to a representative sample of 
homeless veterans and veterans experiencing housing insta-
bility in areas with high veteran homelessness. 
(c) USE AND VARIATION OF SERVICES.—In conducting the study 
under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall— 
(1) use data from the Supportive Services for Veterans 
Families program and other data collected by the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, data collected by other departments or 
agencies of the Federal Government, and data collected by 
nongovernmental entities to compare the use of and variation 
of financial and credit counseling services available for homeless 
veterans and veterans experiencing housing instability and 
such use and variation for other individuals; and 
(2) assess such services made available through the Sup-
portive Services for Veterans Families program, including with 
respect to the types, modes of delivery, duration, consistency, 
and quality, of such services. 
(d) BARRIERS TO COUNSELING.—In conducting the study under 
subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall conduct research on the effects 
of the following perceived barriers to financial and credit counseling 
for homeless veterans and veterans experiencing housing instability 
surveyed in the study: 
(1) The cost of financial and credit counseling services. 
(2) The perceived stigma associated with seeking financial 
and credit counseling assistance. 
(3) The effect of driving distance or availability of other 
forms of transportation to the nearest facility that received 
a grant under the Supportive Services for Veterans Families 
program. 
(4) The availability of child care. 
(5) The comprehension of eligibility requirements for, and 
the scope of services available under, the Supportive Services 
for Veterans Families program. 
(6) The effectiveness of outreach for the services available 
to such veterans under the Supportive Services for Veterans 
Families program. 
(7) The location and operating hours of facilities that pro-
vide services to such veterans under the Supportive Services 
for Veterans Families program. 
(8) The COVID–19 pandemic and other health related 
issues. 
(9) Such other significant barriers as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate.
H. R. 2617—1023 
(e) EVALUATION
AND
ASSESSMENT
OF
EFFECTS
OF
COUN-
SELING.— 
(1) EFFECTS.—In conducting the study under subsection 
(a)(3), the Secretary shall conduct research on the ability to 
evaluate and assess the potential effects of financial and credit 
counseling services on homeless veterans and veterans experi-
encing housing instability with respect to the following: 
(A) The effects of such services on employment by 
comparing the veterans who received such services and 
the veterans who did not receive such services. 
(B) The effects of such services on housing status by 
comparing the veterans who received such services and 
the veterans who did not receive such services. 
(C) The effects of such services on income by comparing 
the veterans who received such services and the veterans 
who did not receive such services. 
(D) The effects of such services on credit score by 
comparing the veterans who received such services and 
the veterans who did not receive such services. 
(E) The effects of such services on other outcomes 
the Secretary determines appropriate. 
(2) DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall— 
(A) determine the relevant data that is available to 
the Secretary and determine the confidence of the Secretary 
with respect to accessing any additional data the Secretary 
may require; and 
(B) provide recommendations regarding the optimal 
research or evaluation design that would generate the 
greatest insights and value. 
(f) DISCHARGE BY CONTRACT.—The Secretary may seek to enter 
into a contract with a qualified independent entity or organization 
to carry out the study and research required under this section, 
including such an entity or organization that is able to access 
credit scores, data maintained by the Internal Revenue Service, 
and other date beneficial to studying income. 
(g) MANDATORY REVIEW OF DATA BY CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF 
DEPARTMENT.— 
(1) REVIEWS REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall ensure that 
the head of each element of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
specified in paragraph (3) reviews the results of the study 
conducted under subsection (a). 
(2) SUBMITTAL OF FINDINGS.—The head of each element 
specified in paragraph (3) shall submit to the Deputy Under 
Secretary for Health for Operations and Management the 
findings of the head with respect to the review conducted by 
the under paragraph (1), including recommendations regarding 
what data the Secretary should collect from grantees under 
the Supportive Services for Veterans Families program. 
(3) SPECIFIED ELEMENTS.—The elements of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs specified in this paragraph are the following: 
(A) The Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans 
established under section 2066 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(B) The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans 
established under section 542 of title 38, United States 
Code.
H. R. 2617—1024 
(C) The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans 
established under section 544 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(D) The Homeless Programs Office of the Veterans 
Health Administration. 
(E) The Office of Tribal Government Relations of the 
Department. 
(h) REPORTS.— 
(1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to Congress an interim report on the study under subsection 
(a). 
(2) FINAL REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report on the study under subsection 
(a). 
(B) CONTENTS.—The report required by subparagraph 
(A) shall include— 
(i) the findings of the head of each element of 
the Department specified under subsection (g)(3); and 
(ii) recommendations for such administrative and 
legislative action as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(i) DEFINITION.—In this section: 
(1) HOMELESS
VETERANS
AND
VETERANS
EXPERIENCING 
HOUSING INSTABILITY.—The term ‘‘homeless veterans and vet-
erans experiencing housing instability’’ means veterans who 
are homeless (as that term is defined in subsection (a) or 
(b) of section 103 of the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 11302)). 
(2) SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES
FOR
VETERANS
FAMILIES
PRO-
GRAM.—The term ‘‘Supportive Services for Veterans Families 
program’’ means the program established pursuant to section 
2044 of title 38, United States Code. 
TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS 
SEC. 401. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPLY CHAIN RESIL-
IENCY. 
(a) REPORT ON CRITICAL ITEMS AND REQUIREMENTS.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing each 
of the following: 
(1) A description of the items and types of items the Sec-
retary considers critical with respect to— 
(A) the ongoing response to the Coronavirus 2019 
(COVID–19) pandemic; and 
(B) future epidemic, pandemic, emergency, national 
emergency, or natural disaster scenarios. 
(2) The quantities of the items described in paragraph 
(1) that are available, as of the date of the enactment of 
this Act, in inventories, emergency caches, or other emergency 
inventories of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
H. R. 2617—1025 
(3) The anticipated quantities of the items described in 
paragraph (1) that would be necessary under potential epi-
demic, pandemic, emergency, national emergency, or natural 
disaster scenarios the Secretary determines to be relevant for 
planning purposes. 
(4) The assumptions and key planning factors used by 
the Secretary to identify the items, types of items, and nec-
essary quantities of items for types of scenarios, as described 
in paragraphs (1) and (3). 
(b) PARTICIPATION IN WARSTOPPER PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
and the Secretary of Defense shall enter into an agreement 
to provide for the participation of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs in the program known as the ‘‘Warstopper Program’’ 
of the Defense Logistics Agency, or any successor program. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Pursuant to the agreement under 
paragraph (1), the Defense Logistics Agency shall— 
(A) ensure the maintenance and stability of the items 
that are identified as critical in the report required under 
subsection (a) and that the Secretary of Defense determines 
are appropriate for the Warstopper Program; 
(B) establish guidance for the participation of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in the Warstopper Program 
that includes an identification of the items and types of 
items that are critical to the needs of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs; and 
(C) use existing contracts and agreements and enter 
into new contracts and agreements, as necessary, with 
manufacturers and distributors to reserve the supply of 
such critical items rather than rely on holding physical 
inventories of such items. 
(c) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
reimburse the Secretary of Defense for any expenses or obligations 
incurred to facilitate the participation of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs in the Warstopper Program pursuant to subsection 
(b). 
(d) PROHIBITION ON EXCLUSIVE RELIANCE ON REGIONAL INVEN-
TORIES.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the 
Department does not exclusively rely on holding regional, physical 
inventories of critical items in order to respond to greater than 
expected needs for such items during epidemic, pandemic, emer-
gency, national emergency, or natural disaster situations. 
(e) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 450 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives a report on the implementation of this sec-
tion. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under paragraph (1) 
shall contain each the following: 
(A) An implementation plan for the participation of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Warstopper Pro-
gram, including milestones and timelines for related 
administrative, contracting, and readiness activities.
H. R. 2617—1026 
(B) For each of the items and associated quantities 
identified in paragraphs (1) and (3) of subsection (a)— 
(i) the method by which the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs plans to ensure the Department continues to 
have access to adequate quantities of such items and 
types of items, including in the Warstopper Program, 
in regional, physical inventories, or other methods; 
and 
(ii) justifications for the method or methods identi-
fied under clause (i). 
(3) UPDATES TO REPORT.—The Secretary shall update the 
report required under paragraph (1) on an annual basis for 
each of the two years following the submission of the report 
under such paragraph and submit such updates to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 402. IMPROVEMENTS TO EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 
FUNCTIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) 
ALIGNMENT
OF
EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY 
DIRECTOR.— 
(1) REPORTING AND DUTIES.—Subsection (h) of section 516 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The provisions’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) The 
provisions’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) Beginning not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole 
Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act 
of 2022, in carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure 
that the official of the Department who serves as the Equal Employ-
ment Opportunity Director of the Department— 
‘‘(A) reports directly to the Deputy Secretary with respect 
to the functions under this section; and 
‘‘(B) does not also serve in a position that has responsibility 
over personnel functions of the Department or other functions 
that conflict with the functions under this section.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Such section is further 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ‘‘, in accordance 
with subsection (h)(2),’’ after ‘‘an Assistant Secretary or 
a Deputy Assistant Secretary’’; and 
(B) in subsection (e)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘the Assistant 
Secretary for Human Resources and Administration’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the Secretary’’. 
(b) ALIGNMENT OF EEO PROGRAM MANAGERS.—Such section 
is further amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(i) In accordance with subsection (b), not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland 
and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health 
Care Improvement Act of 2022, the Secretary shall ensure that 
each Equal Employment Opportunity program manager of the 
Department at the facility level reports to the head of the Office 
of Resolution Management, or such successor office established 
pursuant to subsection (a), with respect to the equal employment 
functions of the program manager.’’.