H. R. 2617—1036 
States Code, (commonly known as the ‘‘Freedom of Information 
Act’’ or ‘‘FOIA’’) with respect to providing documents and 
information under such section within the timeframes required 
by such section. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The plan required by paragraph (1) shall 
include the following: 
(A) Improving and acquiring technology, including with 
respect to searching email and other electronic information, 
and the timelines for such improvement, to ensure that 
the information technology of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs is capable of carrying out the plan. 
(B) Identification of efficient procedures, policies, and 
systems of the Department that could be developed to 
allow employees of the Department responsible for replying 
to requests under such section 552 to search and review 
documents rather than other employees of the Department. 
(C) A schedule for carrying out the plan, including 
key milestones and metrics. 
(b) COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary shall request the 
Director of the Office of Government Information Services of the 
National Archives and Records Administration to conduct an assess-
ment of the compliance by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
with section 552 of title 5, United States Code. 
(c) REPORTS.— 
(1) INITIAL REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 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 implementing subsections (a) 
and (b). 
(B) CONTENTS.—The report required by subparagraph 
(A) shall include the following: 
(i) The plan established under subsection (a). 
(ii) An analysis of the root causes of the backlog 
of Freedom of Information Act requests. 
(iii) Recommendations with respect to any addi-
tional resources or legislative action the Secretary 
determines necessary for such implementation. 
(2) ANNUAL
REPORTS.—During the five-year period fol-
lowing the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives annual reports on— 
(A) carrying out the plan under subsection (a), 
including any updates or changes made to the plan; and 
(B) the compliance by the Department as described 
in subsection (b). 
(3) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall make publicly avail-
able on the internet website of the Department the reports 
under paragraphs (1) and (2) by not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the Secretary submits the reports to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives. 
(d) DEFINITION OF BACKLOG OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 
REQUESTS.—In this section, the term ‘‘backlog of Freedom of 
Information Act requests’’ means the number of requests, as
H. R. 2617—1037 
reported by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Attorney Gen-
eral in the Annual FOIA Report, made by individuals to the Sec-
retary pursuant to section 552 of title 5, United States Code, for 
documents or information that the Secretary has not fulfilled or 
provided a response to the individual. 
SEC. 407. MEDAL OF HONOR SPECIAL PENSION TECHNICAL CORREC-
TION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2003(a) of the Johnny Isakson and 
David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improve-
ment Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315) is amended by striking 
‘‘$1,388.68’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,406.73’’. 
(b) CORRECTION TO CERTAIN PENSION PAYMENTS.— 
(1) CORRECT CODIFICATION.—Section 1562(a)(1) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$1,388.68’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$ 1,406.73’’. 
(2) RETROACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if it were enacted imme-
diately after the enactment of the Johnny Isakson and David 
P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement 
Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315). 
(c) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PENSION PAYMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A payment described in paragraph (2) 
shall be treated as an authorized payment. 
(2) PAYMENTS DESCRIBED.—A payment described in this 
paragraph is a payment of pension under section 1562 of title 
38, United States Code, by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs— 
(A) in the amount of $1,406.73 during the period begin-
ning on January 5, 2021, and ending on November 30, 
2021; 
(B) in the amount of $1,489.73 during the period begin-
ning on December 1, 2021, and ending on November 30, 
2022; or 
(C) in the amount of $1,619.34 during the period begin-
ning on December 1, 2022, and ending on the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 408. IMPOSITION OF CAP ON EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WHO PROVIDE EQUAL EMPLOY-
MENT OPPORTUNITY COUNSELING. 
(a) REIMPOSITION OF CAP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 516 of title 38, United States 
Code, as amended by section 7(a) of the Responsible Education 
Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions Act (Public Law 
117–76), is further amended— 
(A) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); 
and 
(B) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new 
subsection (g): 
‘‘(g)(1)(A) Except as provided in paragraph (4), beginning on 
the date of the enactment of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and 
Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care 
Improvement Act of 2022 and ending on the date that is three 
years after the date of the enactment of such Act, the number 
of employees of the Department whose duties include equal employ-
ment opportunity counseling functions may not exceed 76 full- 
time equivalent employees.
H. R. 2617—1038 
‘‘(B) Except as provided in paragraph (4), beginning on the 
date that is three years after the date of enactment of the Joseph 
Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Bene-
fits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022, the number of 
employees of the Department whose duties include equal employ-
ment opportunity counseling functions may not exceed 81 full- 
time equivalent employees. 
‘‘(2) Except as provided in paragraph (4), of the 76 full-time 
equivalent employees set forth in paragraph (1), the number of 
employees of the Department whose duties include equal employ-
ment opportunity counseling functions as well as other unrelated 
functions may not exceed 40 full-time equivalent employees. 
‘‘(3) Except as provided in paragraph (4), any employee 
described in paragraph (2) whose duties include equal employment 
opportunity counseling functions as well as other unrelated func-
tions may be assigned equal employment opportunity counseling 
functions only at Department facilities in remote geographic loca-
tions. 
‘‘(4)(A) Beginning on the date that is one year after the date 
of enactment of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph 
Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement 
Act of 2022, the Secretary shall promptly notify Congress if, at 
any point in time, the number of full-time equivalent employees 
of the Department specified in paragraph (1), whose duties include 
equal opportunity counseling functions, is insufficient for the 
Department to meet its required obligations under law. 
‘‘(B) Notification under subparagraph (A) shall include— 
‘‘(i) the specific legal obligations relating to employment 
discrimination, or other matters similar to those covered by 
regulations prescribed by the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission, that the Department is unable to meet; and 
‘‘(ii) the total additional number of full-time equivalent 
employees of the Department that would be needed for the 
Department to meet such obligations.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Subsection (b) of section 
7 of such Act is hereby repealed. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to Congress a report that includes the following elements: 
(1) An accounting of the number of informal stage cases 
filed with the employment discrimination complaint resolution 
system established and administered under section 516(a) of 
title 38, United States Code, disaggregated by— 
(A) the period beginning on January 1, 2019, and 
ending on the date of the enactment of this Act; and 
(B) the three-year period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(2) A comparison of timeliness, with respect to the average 
time to process, of processing of informal stage cases by such 
system with respect to— 
(A) the period beginning on January 1, 2019, and 
ending on the date of the enactment of this Act; and 
(B) the three-year period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(3) An accounting of the amounts, times, and quality of 
informal claims processed by employees of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs whose duties include only equal employment
H. R. 2617—1039 
opportunity counseling functions under section 516 of title 38, 
United States Code, disaggregated by— 
(A) the ten-year period ending on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act; and 
(B) the three-year period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act and once each year thereafter, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available to the public 
on an internet website of the Department an annual report that 
includes, for the year covered by the report, the following: 
(1) Total number of complaints filed through the employ-
ment discrimination complaint resolution system established 
and administered under subsection (a) of section 516 of title 
38, United States Code. 
(2) Total number of such complaints completed processing 
by such system in a timely manner. 
(3) The percentage of all pre-complaint counseling provided 
under such section that led to resolution without further action. 
(4) The percentage of all pre-complaint counseling provided 
under such section that led to resolution via alternative dispute 
resolution. 
(5) The percentage of all pre-complaint counseling provided 
under such section that led to filing of a formal complaint 
via such system. 
(6) An accounting of the amounts, times, and quality of 
informal claims processed by employees of the Department 
whose duties include equal employment opportunity counseling 
under such section. 
(7) An estimate of the required ratio of Department 
employees whose duties include equal employment opportunity 
counseling functions relative to the number of full-time equiva-
lent employees in the Department. 
(d) INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the first report is made available under subsection (c), the Comp-
troller General shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives an independent assessment of the ratio reported 
by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (7) of such subsection. 
Such assessment shall include such recommendations as the Sec-
retary may have for improving such ratio and the ability of the 
Department to provide equal employment opportunity counseling. 
DIVISION V—STRONG VETERANS ACT 
OF 2022 
SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This division may be cited as the ‘‘Support 
The Resiliency of Our Nation’s Great Veterans Act of 2022’’ or 
the ‘‘STRONG Veterans Act of 2022’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this division 
is as follows: 
DIVISION V—STRONG VETERANS ACT OF 2022 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
H. R. 2617—1040 
TITLE I—TRAINING TO SUPPORT VETERANS’ MENTAL HEALTH 
Sec. 101. Mental health and suicide prevention outreach to minority veterans and 
American Indian and Alaska Native veterans. 
Sec. 102. Expansion of Vet Center workforce. 
Sec. 103. Expansion of mental health training for Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 104. Expansion of scholarships and loan repayment programs for mental 
health providers. 
TITLE II—VETERANS CRISIS LINE 
Sec. 201. Veterans Crisis Line. 
Subtitle A—Veterans Crisis Line Training and Quality Management 
Sec. 211. Staff training. 
Sec. 212. Quality review and management. 
Sec. 213. Guidance for high-risk callers. 
Sec. 214. Oversight of training of social service assistants and clarification of job 
responsibilities. 
Subtitle B—Pilot Programs and Research on Veterans Crisis Line 
Sec. 221. Pilot programs. 
Sec. 222. Authorization of appropriations for research on effectiveness and opportu-
nities for improvement of Veterans Crisis Line. 
Subtitle C—Transition of Crisis Line Number 
Sec. 231. Feedback on transition of crisis line number. 
TITLE III—OUTREACH TO VETERANS 
Sec. 301. Designation of Buddy Check Week by Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 302. Improvements to Veterans Justice Outreach Program. 
Sec. 303. Department of Veterans Affairs Governors Challenge Program. 
TITLE IV—MENTAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERY 
Sec. 401. Expansion of peer specialist support program of Department of Veterans 
Affairs. 
Sec. 402. Expansion of Vet Center services. 
Sec. 403. Eligibility for mental health services. 
Sec. 404. Mental health consultations. 
TITLE V—RESEARCH 
Sec. 501. Veterans integration to academic leadership program of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 502. Improvement of sleep disorder care furnished by Department of Veterans 
Affairs. 
Sec. 503. Study on inpatient mental health and substance use care from Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 504. Study on treatment from Department of Veterans Affairs for co-occurring 
mental health and substance use disorders. 
Sec. 505. Study on workload of suicide prevention teams of Department of Veterans 
Affairs. 
Sec. 506. Expansion of suicide prevention and mental health research. 
Sec. 507. Study on mental health and suicide prevention support for military fami-
lies. 
Sec. 508. Research on brain health. 
Sec. 509. Study on efficacy of clinical and at-home resources for post-traumatic 
stress disorder. 
TITLE I—TRAINING TO SUPPORT 
VETERANS’ MENTAL HEALTH 
SEC. 101. MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION OUTREACH TO 
MINORITY VETERANS AND AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA 
NATIVE VETERANS. 
(a) STAFFING REQUIREMENT.—Beginning not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall ensure that each medical center of the Department
H. R. 2617—1041 
of Veterans Affairs has no fewer than one full-time employee whose 
responsibility is serving as a minority veteran coordinator. 
(b) TRAINING.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Indian 
Health Service and the Director of the Office of Mental Health 
and Suicide Prevention of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
shall ensure that all minority veteran coordinators receive training 
in delivery of mental health and suicide prevention services cul-
turally appropriate for American Indian and Alaska Native vet-
erans, especially with respect to the identified populations and 
tribes within the coordinators’ catchment areas. 
(c) COORDINATION WITH SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATORS.— 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Office 
of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, shall ensure that the 
suicide prevention coordinator and minority veteran coordinator 
of each medical center of the Department have developed and 
disseminated to the director of the medical center a written plan 
for conducting mental health and suicide prevention outreach to 
all tribes and urban Indian health organizations within the 
catchment area of the medical center. Each such plan shall include 
for each tribe covered by the plan— 
(1) contact information for tribal leadership and the tribal 
health facility or Indian Health Service facility serving that 
tribe; 
(2) a schedule for and list of outreach plans (including 
addressing any barriers to accessing Department mental health 
care); 
(3) documentation of any conversation with tribal leaders 
that may guide culturally appropriate delivery of mental health 
care to American Indian or Alaska Native veterans; 
(4) documentation of any progress in incorporating tradi-
tional healing practices into mental health and suicide preven-
tion protocols and options available for veterans who are mem-
bers of such tribe; and 
(5) documentation of any coordination among the Depart-
ment, the Indian Health Service, urban Indian health organiza-
tions, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration for the purpose of improving suicide prevention 
efforts tailored to veterans who are members of such tribe 
and the provision of culturally competent mental health care 
to such veterans. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary 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 outreach efforts to 
minority veterans and American Indian and Alaska Native vet-
erans. Such report shall include each of the following: 
(1) The number of minority veteran coordinators within 
the Department. 
(2) The number and percentage of minority veteran 
coordinators who are women. 
(3) The number and percentage of minority veteran 
coordinators who are persons of color. 
(4) The number and percentage of Department medical 
centers with minority veteran coordinators.
H. R. 2617—1042 
(5) The number and percentage of Department mental 
health providers who are enrolled members of a federally recog-
nized Indian tribe or self-identify as Native American. 
(6) The number and percentage of Department mental 
health providers who speak a second language. 
(7) A review of the outreach plans developed and submitted 
to all Department medical centers for outreach to American 
Indian and Alaska Native veterans. 
(8) A review of mental health care provided annually by 
the Department to American Indian and Alaska Native vet-
erans for the past three years, including number of appoint-
ments, and an assessment of any barriers to providing this 
care. 
SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF VET CENTER WORKFORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act and subject to the availability of appro-
priations, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall hire an additional 
50 full-time equivalent employees for Vet Centers to bolster the 
workforce of Vet Centers and to provide expanded mental health 
care to veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and their families 
through outreach, community access points, outstations, and Vet 
Centers. 
(b) VET CENTER DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘Vet 
Center’’ has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of 
title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 103. EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than three years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act and subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration 
with the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the 
Office of Academic Affiliations, shall add an additional 250 paid 
trainee slots in covered mental health disciplines to the workforce 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) COVERED MENTAL HEALTH DISCIPLINES DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘covered mental health disciplines’’ means psychi-
atry, psychology, advanced practice nursing (with a focus on mental 
health or substance use disorder), social work, licensed professional 
mental health counseling, and marriage and family therapy. 
SEC. 104. EXPANSION OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND LOAN REPAYMENT PRO-
GRAMS FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. 
(a) EXPANSION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PRO-
GRAM.—Beginning in academic year 2022, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall include not fewer than an additional (as compared 
to academic year 2021) 50 awards per academic year under the 
Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship 
Program under subchapter II of chapter 76 of title 38, United 
States Code, for applicants otherwise eligible for such program 
who are pursuing degrees or training in mental health disciplines, 
including advanced practice nursing (with a focus on mental health 
or substance use disorder), psychology, and social work. 
(b) EXPANSION OF EDUCATION DEBT REDUCTION PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning in fiscal year 2022, the Sec-
retary shall provide not fewer than an additional (as compared 
to fiscal year 2021) 200 debt reduction awards per year under
H. R. 2617—1043 
the Department of Veterans Affairs Education Debt Reduction 
Program under subchapter VII of chapter 76 of title 38, United 
States Code, to be used to recruit mental health professionals 
to the Department of Veterans Affairs in disciplines that include 
psychiatry, psychology, advanced practice nursing (with a focus 
on mental health or substance use disorder), and social work. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
$8,000,000 per year to carry out the additional awards under 
paragraph (1). 
(c) OUTREACH.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a 
public awareness campaign to encourage veterans and mental 
health professionals to choose the Department for their mental 
health career. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The campaign required under paragraph 
(1)— 
(A) shall advertise the paid trainee, scholarship, and 
loan repayment opportunities offered by the Department; 
and 
(B) may highlight the new graduate medical education 
residencies available at the Department for medical stu-
dents entering residency. 
TITLE II—VETERANS CRISIS LINE 
SEC. 201. VETERANS CRISIS LINE. 
In this title, the term ‘‘Veterans Crisis Line’’ means the toll- 
free hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of title 
38, United States Code. 
Subtitle A—Veterans Crisis Line Training 
and Quality Management 
SEC. 211. STAFF TRAINING. 
(a) REVIEW
OF TRAINING
FOR VETERANS CRISIS LINE CALL 
RESPONDERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
enter into an agreement with an organization outside the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to review the training for Vet-
erans Crisis Line call responders on assisting callers in crisis. 
(2) COMPLETION OF REVIEW.—The review conducted under 
paragraph (1) shall be completed not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(3) ELEMENTS OF REVIEW.—The review conducted under 
paragraph (1) shall consist of a review of the training provided 
by the Department on subjects including risk assessment, lethal 
means assessment, substance use and overdose risk assess-
ment, safety planning, referrals to care, supervisory consulta-
tion, and emergency dispatch. 
(4) UPDATE OF TRAINING.—If any deficiencies in the training 
for Veterans Crisis Line call responders are found pursuant 
to the review under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall update 
such training and associated standards of practice to correct
H. R. 2617—1044 
those deficiencies not later than one year after the completion 
of the review. 
(b) RETRAINING GUIDELINES FOR VETERANS CRISIS LINE CALL 
RESPONDERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop guide-
lines on retraining and quality management for when a Vet-
erans Crisis Line call responder has an adverse event or when 
a quality review check by a supervisor of such a call responder 
denotes that the call responder needs improvement. 
(2) ELEMENTS OF GUIDELINES.—The guidelines developed 
under paragraph (1) shall specify the subjects and quantity 
of retraining recommended and how supervisors should imple-
ment increased use of silent monitoring or other performance 
review mechanisms. 
SEC. 212. QUALITY REVIEW AND MANAGEMENT. 
(a) MONITORING OF CALLS ON VETERANS CRISIS LINE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
require that not fewer than two calls per month for each Vet-
erans Crisis Line call responder be subject to supervisory silent 
monitoring, which is used to monitor the quality of conduct 
by such call responder during the call. 
(2) BENCHMARKS.—The Secretary shall establish bench-
marks for requirements and performance of Veterans Crisis 
Line call responders on supervisory silent monitored calls. 
(3) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—Not less frequently than quar-
terly, the Secretary shall submit to the Office of Mental Health 
and Suicide Prevention of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
a report on occurrence and outcomes of supervisory silent moni-
toring of calls on the Veterans Crisis Line. 
(b) QUALITY MANAGEMENT PROCESSES FOR VETERANS CRISIS 
LINE.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the leadership for the Veterans Crisis Line, in partner-
ship with the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention of 
the Department and the National Center for Patient Safety of 
the Department, shall establish quality management processes and 
expectations for staff of the Veterans Crisis Line, including with 
respect to reporting of adverse events and close calls. 
(c) ANNUAL COMMON CAUSE ANALYSIS FOR CALLERS TO VET-
ERANS CRISIS LINE WHO DIE BY SUICIDE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not less frequently than annually, the 
Secretary shall perform a common cause analysis for all identi-
fied callers to the Veterans Crisis Line that died by suicide 
during the one-year period preceding the conduct of the analysis 
before the caller received contact with emergency services and 
in which the Veterans Crisis Line was the last point of contact. 
(2) SUBMITTAL OF RESULTS.—The Secretary shall submit 
to the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention of the 
Department the results of each analysis conducted under para-
graph (1). 
(3) APPLICATION OF THEMES OR LESSONS.—The Secretary 
shall apply any themes or lessons learned under an analysis 
under paragraph (1) to updating training and standards of 
practice for staff of the Veterans Crisis Line.
H. R. 2617—1045 
SEC. 213. GUIDANCE FOR HIGH-RISK CALLERS. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT OF ENHANCED GUIDANCE AND PROCEDURES 
FOR RESPONSE TO CALLS RELATED TO SUBSTANCE USE AND OVER-
DOSE RISK.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with 
national experts within the Department of Veterans Affairs on 
substance use disorder and overdose, shall— 
(1) develop enhanced guidance and procedures to respond 
to calls to the Veterans Crisis Line related to substance use 
and overdose risk; 
(2) update training materials for staff of the Veterans Crisis 
Line in response to such enhanced guidance and procedures; 
and 
(3) update criteria for monitoring compliance with such 
enhanced guidance and procedures. 
(b) REVIEW AND IMPROVEMENT OF STANDARDS FOR EMERGENCY 
DISPATCH.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— 
(A) review the current emergency dispatch standard 
operating procedure of the Veterans Crisis Line to identify 
any additions to such procedure to strengthen communica-
tion regarding— 
(i) emergency dispatch for disconnected callers; and 
(ii) the role of social service assistants in 
requesting emergency dispatch and recording such dis-
patches; and 
(B) update such procedure to include the additions 
identified under subparagraph (A). 
(2) TRAINING.—The Secretary shall ensure that all staff 
of the Veterans Crisis Line are trained on all updates made 
under paragraph (1)(B) to the emergency dispatch standard 
operating procedure of the Veterans Crisis Line. 
SEC. 214. OVERSIGHT OF TRAINING OF SOCIAL SERVICE ASSISTANTS 
AND CLARIFICATION OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— 
(1) establish oversight mechanisms to ensure that social 
service assistants and supervisory social service assistants 
working with the Veterans Crisis Line are appropriately trained 
and implementing guidance of the Department regarding the 
Veterans Crisis Line; and 
(2) refine standard operating procedures to delineate roles 
and responsibilities for all levels of supervisory social service 
assistants working with the Veterans Crisis Line. 
Subtitle B—Pilot Programs and Research 
on Veterans Crisis Line 
SEC. 221. PILOT PROGRAMS. 
(a) EXTENDED SAFETY PLANNING PILOT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS 
CRISIS LINE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Commencing not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to determine
H. R. 2617—1046 
whether a lengthier, templated safety plan used in clinical 
settings could be applied in call centers for the Veterans Crisis 
Line. 
(2) BRIEFING.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to 
Congress a briefing on the findings of the Secretary under 
the pilot program conducted under paragraph (1), which shall 
include any recommendations of the Secretary with respect 
to the continuation or discontinuation of the pilot program. 
(b) CRISIS LINE FACILITATION PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Commencing not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall carry out a pilot program on the use of crisis line facilita-
tion to increase use of the Veterans Crisis Line among high- 
risk veterans. 
(2) BRIEFING.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to 
Congress a briefing on the findings of the Secretary under 
the pilot program under paragraph (1), including any rec-
ommendations of the Secretary with respect to the continuation 
or discontinuation of the pilot program. 
(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(A) The term ‘‘crisis line facilitation’’, with respect to 
a high-risk veteran, means the presentation by a therapist 
of psychoeducational information about the Veterans Crisis 
Line and a discussion of the perceived barriers and 
facilitators to future use of the Veterans Crisis Line for 
the veteran, which culminates in the veteran calling the 
Veterans Crisis Line with the therapist to provide firsthand 
experiences that may counter negative impressions of the 
Veterans Crisis Line. 
(B) The term ‘‘high-risk veteran’’ means a veteran 
receiving inpatient mental health care following a suicidal 
crisis. 
SEC. 222. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR RESEARCH ON 
EFFECTIVENESS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVE-
MENT OF VETERANS CRISIS LINE. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, a total of $5,000,000 
for the Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Centers 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct research on the 
effectiveness of the Veterans Crisis Line and areas for improvement 
for the Veterans Crisis Line. 
Subtitle C—Transition of Crisis Line 
Number 
SEC. 231. FEEDBACK ON TRANSITION OF CRISIS LINE NUMBER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall solicit 
feedback from veterans service organizations on how to conduct 
outreach to members of the Armed Forces, veterans, their family 
members, and other members of the military and veterans commu-
nity on the move to 988 as the new, national three-digit suicide
H. R. 2617—1047 
and mental health crisis hotline, which is expected to be imple-
mented by July 2022, to minimize confusion and ensure veterans 
are aware of their options for reaching the Veterans Crisis Line. 
(b) NONAPPLICATION OF FACA.—The Federal Advisory Com-
mittee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to any feedback solicited 
under subsection (a). 
(c) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ means an organization 
recognized by the Secretary for the representation of veterans under 
section 5902 of title 38, United States Code. 
TITLE III—OUTREACH TO VETERANS 
SEC. 301. DESIGNATION OF BUDDY CHECK WEEK BY SECRETARY OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall des-
ignate one week each year to organize outreach events and educate 
veterans on how to conduct peer wellness checks, which shall be 
known as ‘‘Buddy Check Week’’. 
(b) EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—During Buddy Check Week, the Sec-
retary, in consultation with organizations that represent vet-
erans, nonprofits that serve veterans, mental health experts, 
members of the Armed Forces, and such other entities and 
individuals as the Secretary considers appropriate, shall 
collaborate with organizations that represent veterans to pro-
vide educational opportunities for veterans to learn how to 
conduct peer wellness checks. 
(2) TRAINING
MATTERS.—As part of the educational 
opportunities provided under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
provide the following: 
(A) A script for veterans to use to conduct peer wellness 
checks that includes information on appropriate referrals 
to resources veterans might need. 
(B) Online and in-person training, as appropriate, on 
how to conduct a peer wellness check. 
(C) Opportunities for members of organizations that 
represent veterans to learn how to train individuals to 
conduct peer wellness checks. 
(D) Training for veterans participating in Buddy Check 
Week on how to transfer a phone call directly to the Vet-
erans Crisis Line. 
(E) Resiliency training for veterans participating in 
Buddy Check Week on handling a veteran in crisis. 
(3) ONLINE
MATERIALS.—All training materials provided 
under the educational opportunities under paragraph (1) shall 
be made publicly available on a website of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs. 
(c) OUTREACH.—The Secretary, in collaboration with organiza-
tions that represent veterans, may conduct outreach regarding edu-
cational opportunities under subsection (b) at— 
(1) public events where many veterans are expected to 
congregate; 
(2) meetings of organizations that represent veterans; 
(3) facilities of the Department; and
H. R. 2617—1048 
(4) such other locations as the Secretary, in collaboration 
with organizations that represent veterans, considers appro-
priate. 
(d) VETERANS CRISIS LINE PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure that a plan 
exists for handling the potential increase in the number of 
calls into the Veterans Crisis Line that may occur during 
Buddy Check Week. 
(2) SUBMITTAL OF PLAN.—The head of the Veterans Crisis 
Line shall submit to the Secretary a plan for how to handle 
excess calls during Buddy Check Week, which may include 
the following: 
(A) Additional hours for staff. 
(B) The use of a backup call center. 
(C) Any other plan to ensure that calls from veterans 
in crisis are being answered in a timely manner by an 
individual trained at the same level as a Veterans Crisis 
Line responder. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘organization that represents veterans’’ means 
an organization recognized by the Secretary for the representa-
tion of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 101 of such title. 
(3) The term ‘‘Veterans Crisis Line’’ means the toll-free 
hotline for veterans provided by the Secretary under section 
1720F(h) of such title. 
SEC. 302. IMPROVEMENTS TO VETERANS JUSTICE OUTREACH PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) OUTREACH
REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall conduct outreach regarding the Veterans Justice Out-
reach Program to justice-involved veterans, military and veterans 
service organizations, and relevant stakeholders in the criminal 
justice community, including officials from local law enforcement, 
court, and jail systems and others as determined appropriate by 
the Secretary. Such outreach— 
(1) shall be designed— 
(A) to spread awareness and understanding of the Pro-
gram; 
(B) to spread awareness and understanding of veteran 
eligibility for the Program, including the eligibility of vet-
erans who were discharged from service in the Armed 
Forces under conditions other than honorable; and 
(C) to improve the identification of justice-involved vet-
erans; and 
(2) may be conducted in person, virtually, or through other 
means, including by the dissemination of informational mate-
rials and contact information. 
(b) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
develop a strategic plan for the Veterans Justice Outreach Program. 
In developing such plan, the Secretary shall conduct— 
(1) an assessment of barriers to working with justice- 
involved veterans in rural, remote, and underserved areas, 
including potential steps to address such barriers; and 
(2) a workforce gap analysis for the Program.
H. R. 2617—1049 
(c) INCREASE IN NUMBER OF VJO SPECIALISTS.— 
(1) INCREASE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
increase the number of Veterans Justice Outreach specialists 
responsible for supporting justice-involved veterans in rural, 
remote, or underserved areas, including areas located far from 
Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, as determined 
by the Secretary, through— 
(A) the hiring of additional Veterans Justice Outreach 
specialists; 
(B) the reallocation of existing Veterans Justice Out-
reach specialists; or 
(C) such other means as may be determined appro-
priate by the Secretary. 
(2) DETERMINATION.—The Secretary shall determine the 
number of Veterans Justice Outreach specialists required, and 
the locations of such specialists, under paragraph (1) by taking 
into account— 
(A) such number and locations needed to achieve the 
mission and strategic goals of the Veterans Justice Out-
reach Program; 
(B) any gaps in the workforce of the Program, including 
such gaps identified pursuant to subsection (b)(2); and 
(C) strategies to address such gaps. 
(3) USE OF TECHNOLOGY.—In carrying out paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall consider the use of virtual technology. 
(d) PERFORMANCE GOALS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall establish performance goals and implementation plans 
for— 
(A) the Veterans Justice Outreach Program; 
(B) Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists; and 
(C) providing support for research regarding justice- 
involved veterans. 
(2) CONSISTENCY
WITH
STRATEGIC
PLAN.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that the performance goals and implementation 
plans under paragraph (1) are consistent with the strategic 
plan under subsection (b) and include— 
(A) qualitative and quantitative milestones, measures, 
and metrics, and associated timelines for completion of 
the plans under paragraph (1) and barriers to such comple-
tion; 
(B) an identification of relevant staff; and 
(C) an estimate of resource needs and sources. 
(3) PERFORMANCE DATA.—The Secretary shall establish a 
process to regularly collect and analyze performance data to 
assess the efficiency and effectiveness of implementing the 
plans under paragraph (1). 
(e) TRAINING REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall ensure that 
all Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists receive training not less 
frequently than annually on— 
(1) best practices for identifying and conducting outreach 
to justice-involved veterans and relevant stakeholders in the 
criminal justice community; and 
(2) veteran eligibility for the Veterans Justice Outreach 
Program, including with respect to consistently communicating 
changes regarding eligibility (including through the use of a 
script or other reference materials).