I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 897 
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to State 
and local entities to carry out peer-to-peer mental health programs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 6, 2017 
Mr. ZELDIN (for himself, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. SUOZZI, and Miss RICE 
of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make 
grants to State and local entities to carry out peer- 
to-peer mental health programs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. P.F.C. JOSEPH P. DWYER PEER SUPPORT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall establish a grant program to be known as the 
‘‘P.F.C. Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program’’ under 
which the Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities 
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for the purpose of establishing peer-to-peer mental health 
programs for veterans. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means any of the following enti-
ties that submit to the Secretary an application containing 
such information and assurances as the Secretary may re-
quire: 
(1) A nonprofit organization having historically 
served veterans mental health needs. 
(2) A congressionally chartered veteran service 
organization. 
(3) A State, local, or tribal veteran service 
agency, director, or commissioner. 
(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The recipient of a grant 
under this section shall receive a grant in an amount that 
does not exceed $250,000. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—The recipient of a grant under 
this section shall use the grant funds to— 
(1) carry out a program that meets the stand-
ards developed under subsection (e); 
(2) hire veterans to serve as peer specialists to 
host group and individual meetings with veterans 
seeking nonclinical support; 
(3) provide mental health support to veterans 
24 hours each day, seven days each week; and 
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(4) hire staff to support the program. 
(e) PROGRAM STANDARDS.— 
(1) ADVISORY
COMMISSION.—The Secretary 
shall establish an advisory committee for the pur-
pose of creating appropriate standards applicable to 
programs established using grants under this sec-
tion. 
(2) STANDARDS.—The standards developed 
under paragraph (1) shall include initial and contin-
ued training for veteran peer volunteers, administra-
tive staffing needs, and best practices for addressing 
the needs of each veteran served. 
(f) NONRETENTION
OF RECORDS.—The Secretary 
may not require the recipient of a grant under this section 
to maintain records on veterans seeking support or to re-
port any personally identifying information directly or in-
directly to the Secretary about such veterans. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 to carry out 
this section during the 3-year period beginning on the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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