Title: Veterans Assistance Helpline Act
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Veterans Assistance Helpline Act
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to designate a three-digit dialing code that a covered individual may use to obtain information about, or be directed to, veteran services or benefits. A covered individual is (1) a veteran, (2) an individual acting on behalf of a veteran, or (3) an individual other than a veteran who is eligible to receive a veteran benefit or service.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3251 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3251

To require the Federal Communications Commission, in coordination with 
   the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to designate a simple, easy-to-
 remember dialing code 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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 4, 2020

  Ms. Rosen (for herself, Mrs. Capito, Mrs. Fischer, and Mr. Peters) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Federal Communications Commission, in coordination with 
   the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to designate a simple, easy-to-
 remember dialing code 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''.

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

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission;
            (2) the term ``covered dialing code'' means a simple, easy-
        to-remember, 3-digit dialing code;
            (3) 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) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs; and
            (5) the term ``veteran'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Establishment of Helpline.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission, in coordination with the 
        Secretary, and after conducting the study required under 
        subsection (c), shall designate a covered dialing code for the 
        purposes of 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.--The Commission, in 
        coordination with the Secretary, may enter into a contract with 
        an outside entity to direct calls made to the telephone 
        helpline established under paragraph (1) to the appropriate 
        person regarding a service or benefit described in that 
        paragraph.
            (3) Live individual.--The Commission, in coordination with 
        the Secretary, shall ensure that a covered individual using the 
        telephone helpline established under paragraph (1) speaks with 
        a live individual rather than a recording.
    (c) Study Required.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission, in coordination with the 
        Secretary, shall conduct a study to determine which covered 
        dialing code is most appropriate for the designation required 
        under subsection (b)(1).
            (2) Requirements.--In conducting the study required under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission, in coordination with the 
        Secretary, shall--
                    (A) consider all covered dialing codes, including 
                the codes that are used for other purposes;
                    (B) give preference to any code with which covered 
                individuals are likely to be familiar; and
                    (C) consult with the North American Numbering 
                Council.
            (3) Deadline for completion.--The Commission, in 
        coordination with the Secretary, shall complete the study 
        required under paragraph (1) not later than the date that is 
        180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
            (4) No additional funds authorized.--No additional funds 
        are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection 
        and this subsection shall be carried out using amounts 
        otherwise authorized.
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