To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct veterans outreach programs known as Stand Down events and to establish a pilot program to provide for an annual Stand Down event in each State.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Bruce Vento Stand Down Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS, COMMENDATION, AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) veterans outreach activities known as ``Stand Down 
        events'' have proven to be an effective form of outreach and a 
        successful way to provide assistance to those veterans, 
        frequently homeless, who have most often not otherwise used or 
        availed themselves of existing service delivery functions; and
            (2) Stand Down events have been most effective when managed 
        by a committee composed of representatives of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs, other agencies (Federal, State, or local), 
        veteran service organizations, and homeless service providers 
        and such shared leadership brings to this partnership access to 
        diverse resources with which to carry out those events.
    (b) Sense of Congress Concerning Department of Defense Support.--It 
is the sense of Congress that the several branches of the Armed Forces 
and the National Guard--
            (1) have provided valuable support and services to 
        establish and maintain the delivery of services to veterans at 
        Stand Down events; and
            (2) should continue to do so to the extent that their 
        various missions, responsibilities, and roles permit.
    (c) Commendation of Veterans' Organizations.--Congress hereby--
            (1) commends and recognizes national and local veterans' 
        organizations, which have provided valuable support and 
        services to veterans at Stand Down events and have been 
        instrumental to the success of such events, for their 
        outstanding contributions to those events; and
            (2) strongly encourages those organizations to continue to 
        provide volunteers and resources for those events.
    (d) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs--
            (1) to provide assistance to meet the needs of all veterans 
        at Stand Down events; and
            (2) to work with veterans service organizations and other 
        not-for-profit organizations to determine the best means for 
        organizing and carrying out Stand Down events.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AUTHORIZATION FOR STAND DOWN 
              EVENTS.

    (a) In General.--(1) Subchapter VII of chapter 17 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:
``Sec. 1775. Stand Down events
    ``(a) The Secretary may (directly or in conjunction with a 
governmental or other entity)--
            ``(1) carry out Stand Down events; and
            ``(2) in connection with any Stand Down event, whether 
        carried out by the Secretary or by another sponsoring entity--
                    ``(A) provide outreach services;
                    ``(B) use or provide any property and resources of 
                the Department that the Secretary determines are not 
                otherwise reasonably needed by the Department; and
                    ``(C) provide any other benefit or service of the 
                Department that the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(b) For purposes of this section:
            ``(1) The term `Stand Down event' means an event to provide 
        target veterans with one to three days of safety and security, 
        access to assistance such as food, shelter, clothing, benefits 
        certification, and health care, and any other form of 
        assistance that the Secretary considers appropriate.
            ``(2) The term `target veteran' means a veteran who is 
        without a home, unemployed, experiencing health or social 
        adjustment challenges, or otherwise in need of assistance.
    ``(c) The Secretary shall establish and implement a pilot program 
under which the Secretary shall carry out (directly or in conjunction 
with a governmental or other entity) at least one Stand Down event in 
each State during each calendar year. The Secretary may carry out (or 
otherwise participate in) as many additional Stand Down events during 
any year as the Secretary determines to be needed.
    ``(d) Not later than February 1 of each year, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Congress a report containing--
            ``(1) for the preceding year, a description of the 
        implementation of the pilot program established under 
        subsection (c);
            ``(2) the Secretary's recommendations, if any, for 
        legislation regarding the pilot program; and
            ``(3) any other matter that the Secretary considers 
        appropriate regarding Stand Down events.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``1775. Stand Down events.''.
    (b) Effective Dates.--(1) Subsection (c) of section 1775 of title 
38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect 
beginning with 2002.
    (2) The first report under subsection (d) of such section shall be 
submitted not later than February 1, 2003.

Summary: Bruce Vento Stand Down Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that several branches of the Armed Forces and the National Guard have provided and should continue to provide valuable service in the delivery of services to veterans at Stand Down events (events to provide food, shelter, health care, benefit certification and other help to veterans in need of assistance). Commends veterans' organizations for their outstanding contributions to these events and encourages their continued efforts.Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide outreach and other services as well as property and resources in support of these events. Requires the Secretary to establish a pilot program to conduct (alone or collaboratively) at least one Stand Down event in each State each year.