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portive services (including career transition and mental 
health services and services for elderly veterans) are being 
offered to and used by veterans, and any correlation be-
tween a lack of supportive services programs and the like-
lihood of veterans falling back into housing insecurity. The 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that any med-
ical information included in the report is de-identified. 
SEC. 5114. INCLUSION ON THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMO-
RIAL WALL OF THE NAMES OF THE LOST 
CREW MEMBERS OF THE U.S.S. FRANK E. 
EVANS KILLED ON JUNE 3, 1969. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall authorize the inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Me-
morial Wall in the District of Columbia of the names of 
the 74 crew members of the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans in 
service who were killed on June 3, 1969. 
(b) REQUIRED CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall consult with the Secretary of the Interior, 
the American Battlefield Monuments Commission, and 
other applicable authorities with respect to any adjust-
ments to the nomenclature and placement of names pursu-
ant to subsection (a) to address any space limitations on 
the placement of additional names on the Vietnam Vet-
erans Memorial Wall. 
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(c) NONAPPLICABILITY OF COMMEMORATIVE WORKS 
ACT.—Chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (com-
monly known as the ‘‘Commemorative Works Act’’), shall 
not apply to any activities carried out under subsection 
(a) or (b). 
SEC. 5115. PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR 
CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVED IN THE 
ARMED 
FORCES 
OF 
THE 
REPUBLIC 
OF 
KOREA. 
Section 109 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d)(1) Any person described in paragraph (2) shall 
be entitled to hospital and domiciliary care and medical 
services within the United States under chapter 17 of this 
title to the same extent as if the service described in such 
paragraph had been performed in the Armed Forces of 
the United States. 
‘‘(2) A person described in this paragraph is a person 
whom the Secretary determines meets the following cri-
teria: 
‘‘(A) The person served in Vietnam as a mem-
ber of the armed forces of the Republic of Korea at 
any time during the period beginning on January 9, 
1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, or such other pe-
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riod as determined appropriate by the Secretary for 
purposes of this subsection. 
‘‘(B) The person became a citizen of the United 
States on or after the date on which such service in 
the armed forces of the Republic of Korea ended.’’. 
SEC. 5116. GRANTS FOR PROVISION OF TRANSITION AS-
SISTANCE TO MEMBERS AND FORMER MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AFTER SEPA-
RATION, RETIREMENT, OR DISCHARGE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Labor shall, in coordination with the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, carry out a program to award grants 
to eligible organizations for the provision of assistance to 
covered individuals on the transition of a member or 
former member of the Armed Forces from service in the 
Armed Forces to civilian life. 
(b) COVERED INDIVIDUALS.—For purposes of this 
section, a covered individual is— 
(1) a member of the Armed Forces who is eligi-
ble for preseparation counseling under sections 1142 
and 1144 of title 10, United States Code; 
(2) a former member of the Armed Forces who 
is transitioning from service in the Armed Forces to 
civilian life; or 
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(3) a spouse of a member described in para-
graph (1) or a former member described in para-
graph (2). 
(c) DURATION
OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary of 
Labor shall carry out the program during the 5-year pe-
riod beginning on the date of the commencement of the 
program. 
(d) GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor shall 
carry out the program through the award of grants 
to eligible organizations for the provision of assist-
ance described in subsection (a). 
(2) MATCHING
FUNDS
REQUIRED.—A grant 
under this section shall be in an amount that does 
not exceed 50 percent of the amount required by the 
organization to provide the services described in sub-
section (g). 
(e) ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.—For purposes of this 
section, an eligible organization is any nonprofit organiza-
tion, including workforce boards or Veterans Service Orga-
nizations, that the Secretary of Labor determines, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, is suit-
able for receipt of a grant under the program pursuant 
to receipt by the Secretary of Labor of an application sub-
mitted under subsection (f)(1). 
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(f) SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS.— 
(1) APPLICATIONS.—An organization seeking a 
grant under the program shall submit to the Sec-
retary of Labor an application therefor at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information 
and assurances as the Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, may require. 
(2) PRIORITY
FOR
HUBS
OF
SERVICES.—In 
awarding grants under the program, the Secretary 
of Labor shall give priority to an organization that 
provides multiple forms of services described in sub-
section (g). 
(g) USE OF FUNDS.—The recipient of a grant under 
the program shall use the grant to coordinate for covered 
individuals the following: 
(1) Career and training services, including the 
provision of such services available through the 
workforce development system. 
(2) Mental health services. 
(3) Legal assistance. 
(4) Supportive services. 
(5) Assistance with accessing benefits provided 
under laws administered by the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
(6) Non-clinical case management. 
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(7) Entrepreneurship training. 
(8) Such other services that may be related to 
the assistance and services set forth in this sub-
section as the Secretary of Labor determines may 
lead directly to successful transition to civilian life. 
(h) INCLUSION IN TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PRO-
GRAM COUNSELING.—The Secretary concerned shall in-
clude in the information provided to a member of the 
Armed Forces during the Transition Assistance Program 
information regarding any recipient of a grant under this 
section that is located in the community in which that 
member will reside after separation, retirement, or dis-
charge from the Armed Forces. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out 
this section. 
(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) Except as otherwise provided, any term 
used in this Act that is defined in section 3 of the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3102) shall have the meaning given to such 
term in such section. 
(2) The term ‘‘nonprofit organization’’ is an or-
ganization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of 
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the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt 
from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code. 
(3) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
(4) The term ‘‘Transition Assistance Program’’ 
means the Transition Assistance Program under sec-
tions 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 5117. STUDY ON INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY OF CAN-
CER AMONG FORMER AIRCREW OF THE 
NAVY, AIR FORCE, AND MARINE CORPS. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with the Na-
tional Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 
under which the National Academies shall conduct a study 
of the incidence and mortality of cancers among covered 
individuals. 
(b) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The study under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) Identification of chemicals, compounds, 
agents, and other phenomena that cause elevated 
cancer incidence and mortality risks among covered 
individuals, including a nexus study design to deter-
mine whether there is a scientifically established 
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causal link between such a chemical, compound, 
agent, or other phenomena and such cancer inci-
dence or mortality risk. 
(2) An assessment of not fewer than 10 types 
of cancer that are of the greatest concern with re-
spect to exposure by covered individuals to the 
chemicals, compounds, agents, and other phenomena 
identified under paragraph (1), which may include 
colon and rectum cancers, pancreatic cancer, mela-
noma skin cancer, prostate cancer, testis cancer, uri-
nary bladder cancer, kidney cancer, brain cancer, 
thyroid cancer, lung cancer, and non-Hodgkin 
lymphoma. 
(3) A review of all available sources of relevant 
data, including health care databases of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs and the Department of De-
fense and the national death index, and the study 
conducted under section 750 of the William M. 
(Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 134 
Stat. 3716). 
(c) SUBMISSION.— 
(1) STUDY.—Upon completion of the study 
under subsection (a), the National Academies shall 
submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Sec-
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retary of Defense, the Secretary of the Navy, the 
Secretary of the Air Force, and the Committees on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate the study. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than December 31, 
2025, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate a report on the 
study under subsection (a), including— 
(A) the specific actions the Secretary is 
taking to ensure that the study informs the 
evaluation of disability claims made to the Sec-
retary, including with respect to providing guid-
ance to claims examiners and revising the 
schedule of ratings for disabilities under chap-
ter 11 of title 38, United States Code; and 
(B) any recommendations of the Secretary. 
(3) FORM.—The report under paragraph (2) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form. 
(d) COVERED INDIVIDUAL DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered individual’’ means an individual 
who served in the regular or reserve components of the 
Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, as an air crew member 
of a fixed-wing aircraft or personnel supporting generation 
of the aircraft, including pilots, navigators, weapons sys-
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tems operators, aircraft system operators, personnel asso-
ciated with aircraft maintenance, supply, logistics, fuels, 
or transportation, and any other crew member who regu-
larly flew in an aircraft or was required to complete the 
mission of the aircraft. 
SEC. 5118. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON INCLUSION ON THE 
VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL WALL OF 
THE NAMES OF THE LOST CREW MEMBERS 
OF THE USS FRANK E. EVANS KILLED ON 
JUNE 3, 1969. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
conduct a study to determine the feasibility of including 
on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in the District 
of Columbia the names of the 74 crew members of the 
USS Frank E. Evans in service who were killed on June 
3, 1969. Such study shall include a determination of— 
(1) the cost of including such names; and 
(2) whether there is sufficient space on the 
Wall for the inclusion of such names. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study re-
quired under subsection, the Secretary shall consult with 
members of the Frank E. Evans Association, as well as 
survivors and family members of the crew members who 
were killed. 
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SEC. 5119. LIMITATION ON COPAYMENTS FOR CONTRACEP-
TION. 
Section 1722A(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘to pay’’ and all that follows 
through the period and inserting ‘‘to pay—’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraphs: 
‘‘(A) an amount in excess of the cost to 
the Secretary for medication described in para-
graph (1); or 
‘‘(B) an amount for any contraceptive item 
for which coverage under health insurance cov-
erage is required without the imposition of any 
cost-sharing requirement pursuant to section 
2713(a)(4) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 300gg–13(a)(4)).’’. 
SEC. 5120. REQUIREMENT FOR TIMELY SCHEDULING OF 
APPOINTMENTS AT MEDICAL FACILITIES OF 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 1706A as section 
1706B; and 
(2) by inserting after section 1706 the following 
new section: 
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‘‘§ 1706A. Management of health care: timely sched-
uling of appointments at Department fa-
cilities 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT
FOR SCHEDULING.—In man-
aging the provision of hospital care and medical services 
at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
under this chapter, the Secretary shall ensure that when-
ever a covered veteran contacts the Department by tele-
phone to request the scheduling of an appointment for 
care or services for the covered veteran at such a facility, 
the scheduling for the appointment occurs during that 
telephone call (regardless of the prospective date of the 
appointment being scheduled). 
‘‘(b) COVERED VETERAN DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘covered veteran’ means a veteran who is enrolled 
in the system of patient enrollment of the Department 
under section 1705(a) of this title.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 1706A and inserting the fol-
lowing new items: 
‘‘1706A. Management of health care: timely scheduling of appointments at De-
partment facilities. 
‘‘1706B. Remediation of medical service lines.’’. 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to requests for appoint-
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ment scheduling occurring on or after the date that is 120 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 5121. PROVISION BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS OF REC-
OMMENDATIONS AND OPINIONS REGARDING 
VETERAN PARTICIPATION IN STATE MARI-
JUANA PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall author-
ize physicians and other health care providers employed 
by the Department of Veterans Affairs to— 
(1) provide recommendations and opinions to 
veterans who are residents of States with State 
marijuana programs regarding the participation of 
veterans in such State marijuana programs; and 
(2) complete forms reflecting such recommenda-
tions and opinions. 
(b) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘State’’ means each of the several States, the District of 
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any terri-
tory or possession of the United States, and each federally 
recognized Indian Tribe. 
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SEC. 5122. ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ON WOMEN VETERANS. 
Subsection (c)(1) of section 542 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘even-numbered 
year’’ and inserting ‘‘year’’. 
SEC. 5123. VA PAYMENTS OR ALLOWANCES FOR BENE-
FICIARY TRAVEL. 
Section 111(g) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(1) Beginning one year after 
the date of the enactment of the Caregivers and Vet-
erans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, the 
Secretary may’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary shall’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘to be’’ and inserting ‘‘to be at 
least’’; and 
(3) by striking paragraph (2). 
SEC. 5124. IMPROVEMENT OF VET CENTERS AT DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) PRODUCTIVITY EXPECTATIONS FOR READJUST-
MENT COUNSELORS OF VET CENTERS.— 
(1) EVALUATION OF PRODUCTIVITY EXPECTA-
TIONS.—Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall evaluate productivity expectations for 
readjustment counselors of Vet Centers, including by 
obtaining systematic feedback from counselors on 
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such expectations, including with respect to fol-
lowing: 
(A) Any potential effects of productivity 
expectations, whether positive or negative, on 
client care and the welfare of readjustment 
counselors. 
(B) Distances readjustment counselors 
may travel to appointments, especially with re-
spect to serving rural veterans. 
(C) The possibility that some veterans may 
not want to use nor benefit from telehealth or 
group counseling. 
(D) Availability and access of veteran pop-
ulations to broadband and telehealth. 
(E) Any effect of productivity expectations 
on readjustment counselors, including with re-
spect to recruitment, retention, and welfare. 
(F) Whether productivity expectations pro-
vide incentives or pressure to inaccurately re-
port client visits. 
(G) Whether directors and readjustment 
counselors of Vet Centers need additional train-
ing or guidance on how productivity expecta-
tions are calculated. 
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(H) Such other criteria as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
(2) SYSTEMATIC FEEDBACK.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
(i) make every effort to ensure that all 
readjustment counselors of Vet Centers are 
given the opportunity to fully provide feed-
back, 
positive 
or 
negative, 
including 
through a survey containing open- and 
close-ended questions, on all items under 
paragraph (1); 
(ii) in obtaining feedback under para-
graph (1), ensure that the items under 
paragraph (1) are adequately and com-
pletely addressed in a way that permits re-
sponses to be relevant to the evaluation of 
productivity expectations; 
(iii) collect and safely store the feed-
back obtained under paragraph (1)— 
(I) in an electronic database that 
cannot be altered by any party; 
(II) in an anonymized manner, in 
order to protect the privacy of each 
respondent; and 
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(III) in a manner that allows for 
evaluation by third parties of the feed-
back, such as audit of the feedback by 
the Government Accountability Office; 
and 
(iv) provide the feedback obtained 
under paragraph (1) in an anonymized 
manner to the working group established 
under subsection (c). 
(B) GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY
OF-
FICE
AUDIT.—Not less frequently than once 
each year during the five-year period beginning 
on the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall 
audit the feedback obtained from readjustment 
counselors of Vet Centers under paragraph (1). 
(3) IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGES.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of the completion of the 
evaluation required by paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall implement any needed changes to the produc-
tivity expectations described in such paragraph in 
order to ensure— 
(A) quality of care and access to care for 
veterans; and 
(B) the welfare of readjustment counselors. 
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(4) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the completion of the 
evaluation required by paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report on— 
(A) the findings of the evaluation; and 
(B) any planned or implemented changes 
described in paragraph (3). 
(5) PLAN FOR REASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMEN-
TATION.— 
(A) PLAN.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall develop and implement a plan for— 
(i) reassessing productivity expecta-
tions for readjustment counselors of Vet 
Centers, in consultation with such coun-
selors; and 
(ii) implementing any needed changes 
to such expectations, as the Secretary de-
termines appropriate. 
(B) REASSESSMENTS.—Under the plan re-
quired by subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall 
conduct a reassessment described in such para-
graph not less frequently than once each year. 
(b) STAFFING MODEL FOR VET CENTERS.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and imple-
ment a staffing model for Vet Centers that incor-
porates key practices in the design of such staffing 
model. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—In developing the staffing 
model under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
(A) involve key stakeholders, including re-
adjustment counselors, outreach specialists, and 
directors of Vet Centers; 
(B) incorporate key work activities and the 
frequency and time required to conduct such 
activities; 
(C) ensure the data used in the model is 
high quality to provide assurance that staffing 
estimates are reliable; and 
(D) incorporate— 
(i) risk factors, including case com-
plexity; 
(ii) geography; 
(iii) availability, advisability, and will-
ingness of veterans to use telehealth or 
group counseling; and 
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(iv) such other factors as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
(3) PLAN FOR ASSESSMENTS AND UPDATES.— 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a plan 
for— 
(A) assessing and updating the staffing 
model developed and implemented under para-
graph (1) not less frequently than once every 
four years; and 
(B) implementing any needed changes to 
such model, as the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
(c) WORKING GROUP
OF READJUSTMENT COUN-
SELORS, OUTREACH SPECIALISTS, AND DIRECTORS OF 
VET CENTERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In conducting the evaluation 
of productivity expectations under subsection (a) (1) 
and developing the staffing model for Vet Centers 
under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish a working group to assess— 
(A) the efficacy, impact, and composition 
of performance metrics for such expectations 
with respect to— 
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(i) quality of care and access to care 
for veterans; and 
(ii) the welfare of readjustment coun-
selors and other employees of Vet Centers; 
and 
(B) key considerations for the development 
of such staffing model, including with respect 
to— 
(i) quality of care and access to care 
for veterans and other individuals eligible 
for care through Vet Centers; and 
(ii) recruitment, retention, and wel-
fare of employees of Vet Centers. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The working group estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall be composed of re-
adjustment counselors, outreach specialists, and di-
rectors of Vet Centers. 
(3) FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—The 
working group established under paragraph (1) shall 
provide to the Secretary— 
(A) feedback from readjustment coun-
selors, outreach specialists, and directors of Vet 
Centers; and 
(B) recommendations on how to improve— 
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(i) quality of care and access to care 
for veterans; and 
(ii) the welfare of readjustment coun-
selors and other employees of Vet Centers. 
(d) IMPROVEMENTS OF HIRING PRACTICES AT VET 
CENTERS.— 
(1) STANDARDIZATION OF POSITION DESCRIP-
TIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall standardize 
descriptions of position responsibilities at Vet 
Centers. 
(B) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—In each 
of the first two annual reports submitted under 
section 7309(e) of title 38, United States Code, 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall include a description of the ac-
tions taken by the Secretary to carry out sub-
paragraph (A). 
(2) EXPANSION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 
ON READJUSTMENT COUNSELING TO INCLUDE AC-
TIONS TO REDUCE STAFFING VACANCIES AND TIME 
TO HIRE.—Section 7309(e)(2) of title 38, United 
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portant entity with such entity not later than 
24 hours after the Director of National Intel-
ligence determines that such information indi-
cates an imminent threat— 
‘‘(i) to such entity, or to a system, 
asset, or facility such entity owns or oper-
ates; or 
‘‘(ii) to national security, economic se-
curity, or public health and safety relevant 
to such entity. 
‘‘(C) NATIONAL SECURITY EXEMPTIONS.— 
Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) or (B), the 
Director of National Intelligence may withhold 
intelligence information pertaining to a system-
ically important entity if the Director of Na-
tional Intelligence, with the concurrence of the 
Secretary and the Director, determines that 
withholding such information is in the national 
security interest of the United States. 
‘‘(D) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later 
than three years after the date of the enact-
ment of this section and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary, in coordination with the National 
Cyber Director and the Director of National In-
telligence, shall submit to the Committee on 
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