I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 542 
To require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mental health 
services in languages other than English, as needed, for veterans with 
limited English proficiency, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 17, 2007 
Ms. SOLIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide 
mental health services in languages other than English, 
as needed, for veterans with limited English proficiency, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR 
VETERANS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PRO-
FICIENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
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(1) REQUIREMENT.—Chapter 17 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 1712B the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1713. Mental health services; languages other than 
English 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF COUNSELING IN LANGUAGES 
OTHER THAN ENGLISH.—In providing counseling and 
other mental health services authorized by law to a veteran 
with limited English proficiency, the Secretary shall en-
sure that such counseling and services are available to that 
veteran in both English and a language other than English 
in which the veteran is proficient, if requested by the vet-
eran. 
‘‘(b) IDENTIFICATION OF VETERANS WITH LIMITED 
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.—For purposes of this section, 
the Secretary shall develop procedures for identifying vet-
erans with limited English proficiency and of informing 
those veterans of the provisions of subsection (a).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 1712B 
the following new item: 
‘‘1713. Mental health services; languages other than English.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 1713 of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a) shall take 
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effect at the end of the 120-day period beginning on the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 2. CODIFICATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS OF REQUIREMENTS OF EXECUTIVE 
ORDER 13166. 
(a) SYSTEM FOR ACCESS TO SERVICES.—The Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall implement a system by 
which persons with limited English proficiency can mean-
ingfully access the services provided by the Department 
of Veterans Affairs consistent with, and without unduly 
burdening, the fundamental mission of that Department. 
The Secretary shall work to ensure that recipients of fi-
nancial assistance under programs of the Department pro-
vide meaningful access to applicants and beneficiaries with 
limited English proficiency. 
(b) PLAN.—The Secretary shall implement a plan to 
improve access to programs and activities of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs by eligible persons with limited 
English proficiency. The plan shall be consistent with the 
standards set forth in the guidance document issued by 
the Attorney General in conjunction with Executive Order 
13166, issued August 11, 2000, and shall include the 
steps the Secretary will take to ensure that eligible persons 
with limited English proficiency can meaningfully access 
the programs and activities of the Department. 
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SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION. 
In developing and implementing the plan under sec-
tion 2(b), the Secretary shall, at a minimum, carry out 
the following: 
(1) The Secretary shall conduct a thorough as-
sessment of the language needs of the population 
served by the Department of Veterans Affairs, in-
cluding identifying the non-English languages that 
are likely to be encountered. 
(2) The Secretary shall develop and implement 
a comprehensive language assistance program, which 
shall include— 
(A) hiring bilingual staff and interpreters 
for patient and client contact positions; and 
(B) translating written materials (such as 
consent forms, notice of free language assist-
ance, and outreach materials) into languages 
other than English. 
(3) The Secretary shall train staff of the De-
partment on the access policy of the Department 
with respect to persons with limited English pro-
ficiency and on carrying out that policy. 
(4) The Secretary shall establish vigilant moni-
toring and oversight to ensure that persons with lim-
ited English proficiency have meaningful access to 
health care and services. 
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(5) The Secretary shall establish a task force to 
evaluate implementation and to prioritize needed ac-
tions to implement the access plan for persons with 
limited English proficiency. 
(6) The Secretary shall develop a specific plan 
to ensure seamless transition of veterans and their 
families from benefits and services provided by the 
Department of Defense to benefits and services pro-
vided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, includ-
ing bilingual readjustment and bereavement coun-
seling. 
(7) The Secretary shall establish a process to 
translate vital documents and other materials, in-
cluding materials on the World Wide Web, brochures 
distributed 
as 
part 
of 
outreach 
efforts 
to 
servicemembers transitioning into civilian life, and 
the post-deployment health reassessment program. 
(8) The Secretary shall conduct outreach to vet-
erans and their families in communities which may 
have higher proportions of populations with limited 
English proficiency to ensure they are aware of eligi-
bility for benefits and services from the Department 
of Veterans Affairs. 
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SEC. 4. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION BY VETERANS 
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION OF DIRECTIVE ON 
IMPROVING ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR PER-
SONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives a report on the implementation by the Veterans 
Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs of the directive of the Veterans Health Administra-
tion designated ‘‘VHA Directive 2002–006’’ that was 
issued by the Under Secretary for Health of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs on January 31, 2002, and that 
issued policy to implement prohibitions on discrimination 
on the basis of national origin for persons with limited 
English proficiency in Federally-conducted programs and 
activities and in Federal financial assisted programs. 
(b) 
CAPACITY
TO
PROVIDE
SERVICES
TO 
SERVICEMEMBERS
WITH
LIMITED
ENGLISH
PRO-
FICIENCY.—The Secretary shall include in the report an 
analysis of the capacity of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to provide services to members of the Armed 
Forces with limited English proficiency. 
Æ 
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