Veterans Assistance Helpline Act of 2021
Bill: S.3284 | Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky (D-NV)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Veterans Assistance Helpline Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a toll-free telephone help line for the purpose of providing information to specified individuals about VA services and benefits available in their area. Specifically, the help line is for veterans, persons acting on behalf of veterans, or individuals who are eligible to receive benefits or services from the VA.
The VA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), may contract with a third party to direct calls to the appropriate person regarding a VA service or benefit.
Additionally, the VA must coordinate with the FCC to study and report on the feasibility and advisability of designating a covered dialing code for the purpose of reaching the help line.

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a toll-free 
 telephone helpline for veterans and other eligible individuals to use 
 to obtain information about the benefits and services provided by the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Assistance Helpline Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. TELEPHONE HELPLINE FOR ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS AND OTHER 
              ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.

    (a) Establishment of Helpline.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a toll-free 
        telephone helpline that a covered individual may use to obtain 
        information about, or through which a covered individual may be 
        directed to, any service or benefit provided under a law 
        administered by the Secretary, including any service provided 
        by the Department of Veterans Affairs in the area in which the 
        covered individual is located.
            (2) Contract for direction of calls authorized.--The 
        Secretary may, in coordination with the Commission, enter into 
        a contract with an third-party to direct calls made to the 
        toll-free helpline established under paragraph (1) to the 
        appropriate person regarding a service or benefit described in 
        that paragraph.
            (3) Live individual required.--The Secretary, in 
        coordination with the Commission, shall ensure that a covered 
        individual using the telephone helpline established under 
        paragraph (1) speaks with a live individual rather than a 
        recording.
    (b) Study and Report Required.--Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, in coordination 
with the Commission--
            (1) complete a study to assess the feasibility and 
        advisability of designating a covered dialing code for the 
        purposes of reaching the toll-free telephone helpline 
        established under subsection (a)(1); and
            (2) submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Veteran's Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the findings of the Commission with 
        respect to the study completed under subparagraph (A).
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
            (2) Covered dialing code.--The term ``covered dialing 
        code'' means a simple, easy-to-remember, 3-digit dialing code.
            (3) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual'' 
        means--
                    (A) a veteran;
                    (B) an individual acting on behalf of a veteran; or
                    (C) an individual, other than a veteran, who is 
                eligible to receive a benefit or service under a law 
                administered by the Secretary.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Veterans Affairs.
            (5) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
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