Solid Start Act of 2022
Bill: S.1198 | Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood (D-NH)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Solid Start Act of 2022
This act permanently authorizes and expands the Solid Start program, which is an outreach program for veterans in their first year of separation from the military.
Specifically, the act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to coordinate with the Department of Defense to
Under the act, the VA is authorized to (1) encourage members of the Armed Forces to provide additional contact information if they are unreachable following their separation, and (2) follow up on missed phone calls.

[117th Congress Public Law 205]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 2231]]

                         SOLID START ACT OF 2022

[[Page 136 STAT. 2232]]

Public Law 117-205
117th Congress

                                 An Act


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve and expand the Solid 
   Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 
             purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 17, 2022 -  [S. 1198]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Solid Start 
Act of 2022.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Solid Start Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. SOLID START PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:

 ``SUBCHAPTER <<NOTE: 38 USC 6320 prec.>>  II--OTHER OUTREACH PROGRAMS 
AND ACTIVITIES
``Sec. 6320. <<NOTE: 38 USC 6320.>>  Solid Start program

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a program, to be 
known as the `Solid Start program', under which the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) build the capacity of the Department to efficiently 
        and effectively respond to the queries and needs of veterans who 
        have recently separated from the Armed Forces; and
            ``(2) <<NOTE: Coordination.>>  systemically integrate and 
        coordinate efforts to assist veterans, including efforts--
                    ``(A) to proactively reach out to newly separated 
                veterans to inform them of their eligibility for 
                programs of and benefits provided by the Department; and
                    ``(B) to connect veterans in crisis to resources 
                that address their immediate needs.

    ``(b) Activities of the Solid Start Program.--
(1) <<NOTE: Coordination.>>  The Secretary, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Defense, shall carry out the Solid Start program of the 
Department by--
            ``(A) collecting up-to-date contact information during 
        transition classes or separation counseling for all members of 
        the Armed Forces who are separating from the Armed Forces, while 
        explaining the existence and purpose of the Solid Start program;
            ``(B) calling each veteran, regardless of separation type or 
        characterization of service, three times within the first year 
        after separation of the veteran from the Armed Forces;
            ``(C) <<NOTE: Web posting.>>  providing information about 
        the Solid Start program on the website of the Department and in 
        materials of the Department, especially transition booklets and 
        other resources;

[[Page 136 STAT. 2233]]

            ``(D) ensuring calls are truly tailored to the needs of each 
        veteran's unique situation by conducting quality assurance 
        tests;
            ``(E) prioritizing outreach to veterans who have accessed 
        mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed 
        Forces;
            ``(F) providing women veterans with information that is 
        tailored to their specific health care and benefit needs;
            ``(G) as feasible, providing information on access to State 
        and local resources, including Vet Centers and veterans service 
        organizations; and
            ``(H) <<NOTE: Analysis. Data. Assessment.>> gathering and 
        analyzing data assessing the effectiveness of the Solid Start 
        program.

    ``(2) The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, 
may carry out the Solid Start program by--
            ``(A) encouraging members of the Armed Forces who are 
        transitioning to civilian life to authorize alternate points of 
        contact who can be reached should the member be unavailable 
        during the first year following the separation of the member 
        from the Armed Forces; and
            ``(B) following up missed phone calls with tailored mailings 
        to ensure the veteran still receives similar information.

    ``(3) <<NOTE: Definitions.>>  In this subsection:
            ``(A) The term `Vet Center' has the meaning given that term 
        in section 1712A(h) of this title.
            ``(B) The term `veterans service organization' means an 
        organization recognized by the Secretary for the representation 
        of veterans under section 5902 of this title.''.

    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 63 of such title, as amended by 
subsection (a), is further amended--
            (1) by inserting before section 6301 the following:

     ``Subchapter <<NOTE: 38 USC 6301 prec.>>  I--Outreach Services 
Program'';
        and
            (2) in sections 6301, 6303, 6304, 6305, 6306, and 6307, by 
        striking ``this chapter'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``this subchapter''.

    (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 63 of such title <<NOTE: 38 USC 6301 prec.>>  is amended--
            (1) by inserting before the item relating to section 6301 
        the following new item:

               ``subchapter i--outreach services program'';

        and

[[Page 136 STAT. 2234]]

            (2) by adding at the end the following new items:

         ``subchapter ii--other outreach programs and activities

``6320. Solid Start program.''.

    Approved October 17, 2022.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1198:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
            Sept. 8, considered and passed Senate.
            Sept. 19, Senate vitiated passage; reconsidered and passed 
                Senate.
            Sept. 28, considered in House.
            Sept. 29, prior proceeding vacated; considered and passed 
                House.

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