VA Governors Challenge Expansion Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.5317 | Sponsor: Rep. Takano, Mark (D-CA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
VA Governors Challenge Expansion Act of 2021
This bill provides statutory authority for the Governors Challenge Program and otherwise revises the program. The program assists states and local communities with developing and implementing veteran suicide prevention activities.
In particular, the bill expands the program by directing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make grants to states and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes for developing and implementing plans to prevent veteran suicides. Further, the bill requires the VA to provide technical assistance to tribes.

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to 
 provide technical assistance to States and American Indian and Alaska 
    Native tribes for the development of veteran suicide prevention 
                  activities, 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 ``VA Governors Challenge Expansion Act 
of 2021''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS GOVERNORS CHALLENGE GRANT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Governors Challenge Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall carry out a grant program to be known as the ``Governors 
Challenge Program'' under which the Secretary shall provide technical 
assistance to States and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes for 
the development of veteran suicide prevention activities.
    (b) Governors Challenge Implementation Grant Program.--
            (1) Authority.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        carry out a grant program, to be known as the ``Governors 
        Challenge Implementation Grant Program'' under which the 
        Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities for the 
        purpose of developing and implementing plans developed by the 
        entities to prevent veteran suicides.
            (2) Eligible entities.--For purposes of the grant program 
        under paragraph (1), an eligible entity is a State or an 
        American Indian or Alaska Native tribe--
                    (A) that--
                            (i) in the case of a State, develops a 
                        veteran suicide prevention plan, known as a 
                        ``Governors Challenge Action Plan''; or
                            (ii) in the case of an American Indian or 
                        Alaska Native tribe, develops a veteran suicide 
                        prevention plan; and
                    (B) that submits to the Secretary a proposal for 
                the implementation of such plan that contains such 
                information and assurances as the Secretary may 
                require.
            (3) Award of grant.--The Secretary shall award grants under 
        this subsection as follows:
                    (A) For fiscal year 2022, the Secretary shall award 
                grants to 20 eligible entities.
                    (B) For each of fiscal years 2023 and 2024, the 
                Secretary shall award grants to 24 eligible entities.
            (4) Amount of grant; limitation.--
                    (A) Amount.--The recipient of a grant under this 
                subsection shall receive an amount of not more than 
                $500,000 for any fiscal year for a maximum of three 
                years.
                    (B) Limitation on use of funds.--The recipient of a 
                grant under this subsection may not use more than ten 
                percent of the amount of the grant for administrative 
                costs.
            (5) Authorization of appropriations.--
                    (A) In general.--There is authorized to be 
                appropriated to carry out this subsection--
                            (i) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
                            (ii) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and
                            (iii) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
                    (B) Relationship to other amounts.--Amounts 
                authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subparagraph 
                (A) shall be in addition to any other amounts otherwise 
                available for the Governors Challenge Program.
                                 <all>