Title: Sergeant Daniel Somers Veterans Network of Support Act of 2019
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Sergeant Daniel Somers Veterans Network of Support Act of 2019
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a two-year pilot program on information sharing between the VA and designated persons regarding the assistance and benefits available to veterans. Under the program, volunteer participants who are in the Armed Forces and are transitioning to civilian life shall designate up to 10 persons to receive information on specified services and benefits from the VA.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5324 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5324

   To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot 
   program on information sharing between the Department of Veterans 
Affairs and designated relatives and friends of veterans regarding the 
   assistance and benefits available to the veterans, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 5, 2019

 Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Banks, Mrs. Davis of California, and Mr. 
  Cisneros) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot 
   program on information sharing between the Department of Veterans 
Affairs and designated relatives and friends of veterans regarding the 
   assistance and benefits available to the veterans, 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 ``Sergeant Daniel Somers Veterans 
Network of Support Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DESIGNATED RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF 
              VETERANS REGARDING THE ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE 
              TO THE VETERANS.

    (a) Pilot Program Required.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall commence carrying out a pilot program--
                    (A) to encourage members of the Armed Forces who 
                are transitioning from service in the Armed Forces to 
                civilian life, before separating from such service, to 
                designate up to 10 persons to whom information 
                regarding the assistance and benefits available to the 
                veterans under laws administered by the Secretary shall 
                be disseminated using the contact information obtained 
                under paragraph (7); and
                    (B) provides such persons, within 30 days after the 
                date on which such persons are designated under 
                subparagraph (A), the option to elect to receive such 
                information.
            (2) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
        program during a period beginning on the date of the 
        commencement of the pilot program that is not less than two 
        years.
            (3) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall disseminate 
        information described in paragraph (1)(A) under the pilot 
        program no less than quarterly.
            (4) Types of information.--The types of information to be 
        disseminated under the pilot program to persons who elect to 
        receive such information shall include information regarding 
        the following:
                    (A) Services and benefits offered to veterans and 
                their family members by the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs.
                    (B) Challenges and stresses that might accompany 
                transitioning from service in the Armed Forces to 
                civilian life.
                    (C) Services available to veterans and their family 
                members to cope with the experiences and challenges of 
                service in the Armed Forces and transition from such 
                service to civilian life.
                    (D) Services available through community partner 
                organizations to support veterans and their family 
                members.
                    (E) Services available through Federal, State, and 
                local government agencies to support veterans and their 
                family members.
                    (F) The environmental health registry program, 
                health and wellness programs, and resources for 
                preventing and managing diseases and illnesses.
                    (G) A toll-free telephone number through which such 
                persons who elect to receive information under the 
                pilot program may request information regarding the 
                program.
                    (H) Such other matters as the Secretary, in 
                consultation with members of the Armed Forces and such 
                persons who elect to receive information under the 
                pilot program, determines to be appropriate.
            (5) Privacy of information.--In carrying out the pilot 
        program, the Secretary may not disseminate information under 
        paragraph (4) in violation of laws and regulations pertaining 
        to the privacy of members of the Armed Forces, including 
        requirements pursuant to--
                    (A) section 552a of title 5, United States Code; 
                and
                    (B) the Health Insurance Portability and 
                Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191).
            (6) Notice and modifications.--In carrying out the pilot 
        program, the Secretary shall, with respect to a veteran--
                    (A) ensure that such veteran is notified of the 
                ability to modify designations made by such veteran 
                under paragraph (1)(A); and
                    (B) upon the request of a veteran, authorize such 
                veteran to modify such designations at any time.
            (7) Contact information.--In making a designation under the 
        pilot program, a veteran shall provide necessary contact 
        information, specifically including an email address, to 
        facilitate the dissemination of information regarding the 
        assistance and benefits available to the veteran under laws 
        administered by the Secretary.
            (8) Opt-in and opt-out of pilot program.--
                    (A) Opt-in by members.--A veteran may participate 
                in the pilot program only if the veteran voluntarily 
                elects to participate in the program. A veteran seeking 
                to make such an election shall make such election in a 
                manner, and by including such information, as the 
                Secretary shall specify for purposes of the pilot 
                program.
                    (B) Opt-in by designated recipients.--A person 
                designated pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) may receive 
                information under the pilot program only if the person 
                makes the election described in paragraph (1)(B).
                    (C) Opt-out.--In carrying out the pilot program, 
                the Secretary shall, with respect to a person who has 
                elected to receive information under such pilot 
                program, cease disseminating such information to that 
                person upon request of such person.
    (b) Survey and Report on Pilot Program.--
            (1) Survey.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
                date of the commencement of the pilot program and not 
                less frequently than once each year thereafter for the 
                duration of the pilot program, the Secretary shall 
                administer a survey to persons who elected to receive 
                information under the pilot program for the purpose of 
                receiving feedback regarding the quality of information 
                disseminated under this section.
                    (B) Elements.--Each survey conducted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include solicitation of the 
                following:
                            (i) Feedback on the following:
                                    (I) The nature of information 
                                disseminated under the pilot program.
                                    (II) Satisfaction with the pilot 
                                program.
                                    (III) The utility of the pilot 
                                program.
                                    (IV) Overall pilot program 
                                successes and challenges.
                            (ii) Recommendations for improving the 
                        pilot program.
                            (iii) Reasons for opting in or out of the 
                        pilot program.
                            (iv) Such other feedback or matters as the 
                        Secretary considers appropriate.
            (2) Report.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than three years after 
                the date on which the pilot program commences, the 
                Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
                Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' 
                Affairs of the House of Representatives a final report 
                on the pilot program.
                    (B) Contents.--The report submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
                            (i) The results of the survey administered 
                        under paragraph (1).
                            (ii) The number of participants enrolled in 
                        the pilot program who are veterans.
                            (iii) The number of persons designated 
                        under subsection (a)(1)(A).
                            (iv) The number of such persons who opted 
                        in or out of the pilot program under subsection 
                        (a)(8).
                            (v) The average period such persons 
                        remained in the pilot program.
                            (vi) An assessment of the feasibility and 
                        advisability of making the pilot program 
                        permanent.
                            (vii) Identification of legislative or 
                        administrative action that may be necessary if 
                        the pilot program is made permanent.
                            (viii) A plan to expand the pilot program 
                        if the pilot program is made permanent.
                            (ix) If the Secretary finds under clause 
                        (vi) that making the pilot program permanent is 
                        not feasible or advisable, a justification for 
                        such finding.
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