I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5440 
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide financial assistance 
to eligible entities to provide and coordinate the provision of post-trau-
matic stress disorder prevention services for veterans through the award 
of grants to such entities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 16, 2019 
Mr. MEADOWS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide finan-
cial assistance to eligible entities to provide and coordi-
nate the provision of post-traumatic stress disorder pre-
vention services for veterans through the award of grants 
to such entities, 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. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Remembering the Life 
of Kyle Poteat Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN ENTITIES TO 
PROVIDE AND COORDINATE THE PROVISION 
OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER PRE-
VENTION SERVICES FOR VETERANS. 
(a) DISTRIBUTION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—The 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide financial as-
sistance to eligible entities approved under this section 
through the award of grants to such entities to provide 
and coordinate the provision of post-traumatic stress dis-
order prevention services to veterans. 
(b) AWARD OF GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award a 
grant to each eligible entity for which the Secretary 
has approved an application under subsection (e) to 
provide or coordinate the provision of post-traumatic 
stress disorder prevention services under this sec-
tion. 
(2) GRANT
AMOUNTS, INTERVALS
OF
PAY-
MENTS, AND MATCHING FUNDS.—In accordance with 
the services being provided under a grant under this 
section and the duration of those services, the Sec-
retary may establish— 
(A) a maximum amount to be awarded 
under the grant; 
(B) intervals of payment for the adminis-
tration of the grant; and 
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(C) a requirement for the recipient of the 
grant to provide matching funds in a specified 
percentage. 
(c) DISTRIBUTION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND 
PREFERENCE.— 
(1) DISTRIBUTION.— 
(A) GEOGRAPHIC.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that, to the extent practicable and in 
compliance with subparagraph (B), financial as-
sistance under this section is equitably distrib-
uted across geographic regions, including rural 
communities and Tribal land. 
(B) AREAS
WITH
NEED.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, fi-
nancial assistance under this section is distrib-
uted— 
(i) to provide services in areas of the 
United States that have experienced high 
rates of, or a high burden of, veteran post- 
traumatic stress disorder; and 
(ii) to eligible entities that can assist 
veterans at risk of or who have post-trau-
matic stress disorder. 
(2) PREFERENCE.—The Secretary shall give 
preference in the provision of financial assistance 
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under this section to eligible entities providing or co-
ordinating, or who have demonstrated the ability to 
provide or coordinate, post-traumatic stress disorder 
prevention services. 
(d) REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIPT OF FINANCIAL AS-
SISTANCE.— 
(1) NOTIFICATION THAT SERVICES ARE FROM 
THE DEPARTMENT.—Each entity receiving financial 
assistance under this section to provide post-trau-
matic stress disorder prevention services to veterans 
shall notify the recipients of such services that such 
services are being paid for, in whole or in part, by 
the Department. 
(2) REPORTS.—The Secretary— 
(A) shall require each entity receiving fi-
nancial assistance under this section to submit 
to the Secretary an annual report that describes 
the projects carried out with such financial as-
sistance during the year covered by the report; 
(B) shall specify to each such entity the 
evaluation criteria and data and information to 
be submitted in such report; and 
(C) may require such entity to submit to 
the Secretary such additional reports as the 
Secretary considers appropriate. 
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(e) APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity seeking fi-
nancial assistance under this section shall submit to 
the Secretary an application therefor in such form, 
in such manner, and containing such commitments 
and information as the Secretary considers nec-
essary to carry out this section. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—Each applica-
tion submitted by an eligible entity under paragraph 
(1) shall contain the following: 
(A) A description of the post-traumatic 
stress disorder prevention services proposed to 
be provided by the eligible entity and the identi-
fied need for those services. 
(B) A detailed plan describing how the eli-
gible entity proposes to coordinate and deliver 
post-traumatic stress disorder prevention serv-
ices to veterans, including— 
(i) an identification of the community 
partners with which the eligible entity pro-
poses to work in delivering such services; 
(ii) a description of the arrangements 
currently in place between the eligible enti-
ty and such partners; and 
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in receipt of financial assistance under this section 
regarding— 
(A) the data required to be collected and 
shared with the Department; 
(B) the means of data collection and shar-
ing; 
(C) familiarization with and appropriate 
use of any tool to be used to measure the effec-
tiveness of the use of the financial assistance 
provided; and 
(D) the requirements for reporting under 
subsection (d) on services provided via such fi-
nancial assistance. 
(2) PROVISION OF TRAINING AND TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may provide the train-
ing and technical assistance described in paragraph 
(1) directly or through grants or contracts with ap-
propriate public or nonprofit entities. 
(g) ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT PROGRAM.— 
(1) SELECTION CRITERIA.—The Secretary, in 
consultation with entities specified in paragraph (3), 
shall establish criteria for the selection of eligible en-
tities that have submitted applications under sub-
section (e). 
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(2) 
DEVELOPMENT
OF
MEASURES
AND 
METRICS.—The Secretary shall develop, in consulta-
tion with entities specified in paragraph (3), the fol-
lowing: 
(A) A framework for collecting and sharing 
information about entities in receipt of financial 
assistance under this section for purposes of 
improving the discovery of services available for 
veterans at risk of post-traumatic stress dis-
order, set forth by service type, locality, and eli-
gibility criteria. 
(B) The measures to be used by each enti-
ty in receipt of financial assistance under this 
section to determine the effectiveness of the 
programming being provided by such entity in 
improving mental resiliency and mental outlook 
of veterans at risk of post-traumatic stress dis-
order. 
(C) Metrics for measuring the effectiveness 
of the provision of financial assistance under 
this section. 
(3) COORDINATION.—In developing a plan for 
the design and implementation of the provision of fi-
nancial assistance under this section, including cri-
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teria for the award of grants, the Secretary shall 
consult with the following: 
(A) Veterans service organizations. 
(B) National organizations representing 
potential community partners of eligible entities 
in providing supportive services to address the 
needs of veterans at risk of post-traumatic 
stress disorder, including national organizations 
that— 
(i) advocate for the needs of individ-
uals with or at risk of behavioral health 
conditions; 
(ii) represent mayors; 
(iii) represent religious or faith lead-
ers; 
(iv) represent first responders; or 
(v) represent chiefs of police and sher-
iffs. 
(C) Organizations with which the Depart-
ment has a current memoranda of agreement or 
understanding related to mental health or post- 
traumatic stress disorder. 
(D) State departments of veterans affairs. 
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(E) National organizations representing 
members of the reserve components of the 
Armed Forces. 
(F) Vet Centers. 
(G) Organizations with experience in cre-
ating measurement tools for purposes of deter-
mining programmatic effectiveness. 
(H) Such other organizations as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
(4) REPORT ON GRANT CRITERIA.—Before noti-
fying eligible entities of the availability of funding 
under this section, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report containing— 
(A) criteria for the award of a grant under 
this section; 
(B) the tool to be used by the Department 
to measure the effectiveness of the use of finan-
cial assistance provided under this section; and 
(C) a framework for the sharing of infor-
mation about entities in receipt of financial as-
sistance under this section. 
(h) INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may make 
available to recipients of financial assistance under 
this section certain information regarding potential 
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beneficiaries of services for which such financial as-
sistance is provided. 
(2) INFORMATION INCLUDED.—The information 
made available under paragraph (1) with respect to 
potential beneficiaries may include the following: 
(A) Confirmation of the status of a poten-
tial beneficiary as a veteran. 
(B) Confirmation of whether a potential 
beneficiary is currently receiving care furnished 
by the Department or has recently received 
such care. 
(i) DURATION.—The authority of the Secretary to 
provide financial assistance under this section shall termi-
nate on the date that is three years after the date on which 
the first grant is awarded under this section. 
(j) REPORTING.— 
(1) INTERIM REPORT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 18 
months after the date on which the first grant 
is awarded under this section, the Secretary 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the provision of financial 
assistance under this section. 
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(B) ELEMENTS..—The report submitted 
under subparagraph (A) shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(i) An assessment of the effectiveness 
of the provision of financial assistance 
under this section, including the effective-
ness of community partners in conducting 
outreach to veterans at risk of post-trau-
matic stress disorder. 
(ii) A list of grant recipients and their 
partner organizations that delivered serv-
ices funded by the grant and the amount 
of such grant received by each recipient 
and partner organization. 
(iii) The number of veterans sup-
ported by each grant recipient, including 
through services provided to family mem-
bers. 
(iv) The number of veterans sup-
ported by financial assistance under this 
section, including through services provided 
to family members. 
(v) The number of veterans supported 
by financial assistance under this section, 
including through services provided to fam-
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ily members, who were not previously re-
ceiving care furnished by the Department. 
(vi) The number of veterans whose 
mental resiliency and mental outlook re-
ceived a baseline measurement assessment 
under this section and the number of such 
veterans whose mental resiliency and men-
tal outlook will be measured by the De-
partment or a community partner over a 
period of time. 
(vii) The types of data the Depart-
ment was able to collect and share with 
partners, including a characterization of 
the benefits of that data. 
(2) FINIAL
REPORT.—Not later than three 
years after the date on which the first grant is 
awarded under this section, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress— 
(A) a follow-up on the interim report sub-
mitted under paragraph (1) containing the ele-
ments set forth in subparagraph (B) of such 
paragraph; and 
(B) a report on— 
(i) the effectiveness of the provision of 
financial assistance under this section, in-
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cluding the effectiveness of community 
partners in conducting outreach and edu-
cation to veterans at risk of post-traumatic 
stress disorder; 
(ii) an assessment of the increased ca-
pacity of the Department to provide serv-
ices to veterans at risk of post-traumatic 
stress disorder, set forth by State, as a re-
sult of the provision of financial assistance 
under this section; and 
(iii) the feasibility and advisability of 
extending or expanding the provision of fi-
nancial assistance under this section. 
(k) SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF VETERANS.—Section 
7309A of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d) by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(15) To support family caregivers, acting in 
consultation with the veteran and family advisor, by 
sharing information with such family caregivers 
about the following: 
‘‘(A) The rights and responsibilities of a 
veteran as a patient receiving health care. 
‘‘(B) The benefits, services, and treatments 
available to a veteran. 
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‘‘(C) How an external advocate helps a vet-
eran based upon the specific needs of such vet-
eran, including by providing support, resources, 
and personalized case management to meet 
such needs.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘family caregiver’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 1720G(d). 
‘‘(2) The term ‘controlled substance’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 102 of the Con-
trolled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802). 
‘‘(3) The term ‘external advocate’ has the 
meaning given that term in Veterans Health Admin-
istration directive 1003.04 (or any successor direc-
tive). 
‘‘(4) The term ‘veteran and family advisor’ has 
the meaning given the term ‘Veteran/Family Advi-
sor’ in Veterans Health Administration directive 
1003.04 (or any successor directive).’’. 
(l) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means— 
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(A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
and the Subcommittee on Military Construc-
tion, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of 
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
and 
(B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
and the Subcommittee on Military Construc-
tion, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of 
the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) an incorporated private institution or 
foundation— 
(i) no part of the net earnings of 
which incurs to the benefit of any member, 
founder, contributor, or individual; 
(ii) that has a governing board that 
would be responsible for the operation of 
the post-traumatic stress disorder preven-
tion services provided under this section; 
and 
(iii) that is approved by the Secretary 
as to financial responsibility; 
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(B) a corporation wholly owned and con-
trolled by an organization meeting the require-
ments of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subpara-
graph (A); 
(C) 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)); or 
(D) a community-based organization that 
is physically based in the targeted community 
and that can effectively network with local civic 
organizations, regional health systems, and 
other settings where veterans at risk of post- 
traumatic stress disorder are likely to have con-
tact. 
(3) PEER SPECIALIST.—The term ‘‘peer spe-
cialist’’ means a person eligible to be appointed as 
a peer specialist under section 7402(b)(13) of title 
38, United States Code. 
(4) RISK
OF
POST-TRAUMATIC
STRESS
DIS-
ORDER.—The term ‘‘risk of post-traumatic stress 
disorder’’ means exposure to or the existence of any 
of the following: 
(A) Health risk factors, including the fol-
lowing: 
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(i) Mental health challenges. 
(ii) Substance abuse. 
(iii) Serious or chronic health condi-
tions or pain. 
(iv) Traumatic brain injury. 
(B) Environmental risk factors, including 
the following: 
(i) Access to lethal means (such as 
drugs, firearms, etc.). 
(ii) Prolonged stress. 
(iii) Stressful life events. 
(iv) Exposure to the suicide of an-
other person or to graphic or sensational-
ized accounts of suicide. 
(v) Unemployment. 
(vi) Homelessness. 
(vii) Recent loss. 
(viii) Legal or financial challenges. 
(C) Historical risk factors, including the 
following: 
(i) Previous suicide attempts. 
(ii) Family history of suicide. 
(iii) History of abuse, neglect, or trau-
ma. 
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(5) POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER PRE-
VENTION
SERVICES.—The term ‘‘post-traumatic 
stress disorder services’’ means services to address 
the needs of veterans at risk of post-traumatic stress 
disorder and includes the following: 
(A) Outreach to identify veterans at risk of 
post-traumatic stress disorder, with an empha-
sis on veterans who are at highest risk or not 
receiving health care or other services furnished 
by the Department. 
(B) A baseline mental health assessment 
for risk screening and referral to care. 
(C) Education on post-traumatic stress 
disorder and how to care for individuals with it 
and peer support to families and communities. 
(D) Direct treatment. 
(E) Medication management. 
(F) Individual and group therapy. 
(G) Case management services. 
(H) Peer support services. 
(I) Assistance in obtaining any benefits 
from the Department that the veteran at risk of 
post-traumatic stress disorder or veteran family 
may be eligible to receive, including— 
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(i) vocational and rehabilitation coun-
seling; 
(ii) supportive services for homeless 
veterans; 
(iii) employment and training services; 
(iv) educational assistance; and 
(v) health care services. 
(J) Assistance in obtaining and coordi-
nating the provision of other benefits provided 
by the Federal Government, a State or local 
government, or an eligible entity. 
(K) Temporary cash assistance (not to ex-
ceed 6 months) to assist with emergent needs 
relating to— 
(i) health care services; 
(ii) daily living services; 
(iii) personal financial planning; 
(iv) transportation services; 
(v) temporary income support serv-
ices; 
(vi) fiduciary and representative payee 
services; 
(vii) legal services to assist the vet-
eran family with issues that may con-
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tribute to the risk of post-traumatic stress 
disorder of the veteran; and 
(viii) child care (not to exceed $5,000 
per veteran family per fiscal year). 
(L) Such other services necessary for im-
proving the resiliency of veterans at risk of 
post-traumatic stress disorder and veteran fam-
ilies as the Secretary considers appropriate, 
which may include— 
(i) adaptive sports or in-place rec-
reational therapy; 
(ii) substance use reduction program-
ming; 
(iii) individual, group, or family coun-
seling; and 
(iv) relationship coaching. 
(6) VET
CENTER.—The term ‘‘Vet Center’’ 
means a center for readjustment counseling and re-
lated mental health services for veterans under sec-
tion 1712A of title 38, United States Code. 
(7) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
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(8) VETERAN
FAMILY.—The term ‘‘veteran 
family’’ means, with respect to a veteran at risk of 
post-traumatic stress disorder, any of the following: 
(A) A parent. 
(B) A spouse. 
(C) A child. 
(D) A sibling. 
(E) A step-family member. 
(F) An extended family member. 
(G) Any other individual who lives with the 
veteran. 
(9) VETERANS
SERVICE
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ means any or-
ganization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs for the representation of veterans included as 
part of the annually updated list at https:// 
www.va.gov/vso/ or a successor website. 
Æ 
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