Solid Start Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-1198
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2021-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government information and archives
Health care coverage and access
Mental health
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-15
text: 

Solid Start Act of 2021

 
This bill 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 bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to coordinate with the Department of Defense to 
 
 
collect updated contact information during transition classes or separation counseling for members of the Armed Forces who are separating from service;
 
explain the existence and purpose of the program;
 
call veterans three times within the first year of separation;
 
publish information about the program in booklets and on the VA website;
 
provide women veterans with information tailored to their health care and benefit needs;
 
provide information on access to state and local resources, such as Vet Centers;
 
gather and analyze data that assesses the effectiveness of the program;
 
 
ensure calls are tailored to each veteran's needs by conducting quality assurance tests; and
 
prioritize outreach to veterans who have accessed mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed Forces.
 
 
Under the bill, the VA is authorized to (1) encourage members of the Armed Forces to provide additional contact information if they are unreachable following their separation, (2) follow up on missed phone calls, and (3) reach out to veterans who separated prior to the initiation of the Solid Start program. 

action_date: 2022-08-04
text: 

Solid Start Act of 2021

 
This bill 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 bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to coordinate with the Department of Defense to 
 
 
collect updated contact information during transition classes or separation counseling for members of the Armed Forces who are separating from service;
 
explain the existence and purpose of the program;
 
call veterans three times within the first year of separation;
 
publish information about the program in booklets and on the VA website;
 
provide women veterans with information tailored to their health care and benefit needs;
 
provide information on access to state and local resources, such as Vet Centers;
 
gather and analyze data that assesses the effectiveness of the program;
 
 
ensure calls are tailored to each veteran's needs by conducting quality assurance tests; and
 
prioritize outreach to veterans who have accessed mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed Forces.
 
 
Under the bill, 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. 

action_date: 2022-09-19
text: 

Solid Start Act of 2022

 
This bill 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 bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to coordinate with the Department of Defense to
 
 
collect updated contact information during transition classes or separation counseling for members of the Armed Forces who are separating from service;
 
explain the existence and purpose of the program;
 
call veterans three times within the first year of separation;
 
publish information about the program in booklets and on the VA website;
 
provide women veterans with information tailored to their health care and benefit needs;
 
provide information on access to state and local resources, such as Vet Centers;
 
gather and analyze data that assesses the effectiveness of the program;
 
ensure calls are tailored to each veteran's needs by conducting quality assurance tests; and
 
prioritize outreach to veterans who have accessed mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed Forces.
 
 
Under the bill, 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.

action_date: 2022-09-29
text: 

Solid Start Act of 2022

 
This bill 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 bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to coordinate with the Department of Defense to
 
 
collect updated contact information during transition classes or separation counseling for members of the Armed Forces who are separating from service;
 
explain the existence and purpose of the program;
 
call veterans three times within the first year of separation;
 
publish information about the program in booklets and on the VA website;
 
provide women veterans with information tailored to their health care and benefit needs;
 
provide information on access to state and local resources, such as Vet Centers;
 
gather and analyze data that assesses the effectiveness of the program;
 
ensure calls are tailored to each veteran's needs by conducting quality assurance tests; and
 
prioritize outreach to veterans who have accessed mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed Forces.
 
 
Under the bill, 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.

action_date: 2022-10-17
text: 

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
 
 
collect updated contact information during transition classes or separation counseling for members of the Armed Forces who are separating from service;
 
explain the existence and purpose of the program;
 
call veterans three times within the first year of separation;
 
publish information about the program in booklets and on the VA website;
 
provide women veterans with information tailored to their health care and benefit needs;
 
provide information on access to state and local resources, such as Vet Centers;
 
gather and analyze data that assesses the effectiveness of the program;
 
ensure calls are tailored to each veteran's needs by conducting quality assurance tests; and
 
prioritize outreach to veterans who have accessed mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed Forces.
 
 
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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-10-17
text: Became Public Law No: 117-205.
action_date: 2022-10-17
text: Became Public Law No: 117-205.
action_date: 2022-10-17
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2022-10-17
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2022-10-17
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2022-10-17
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2022-09-29
text: Pursuant to section 10 of H. Res. 1396, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 1638, as amended; H.R. 3304, as amended; H.R. 4081, as amended; H.R. 4821, as amended; H.R. 6889, as amended; H.R. 6967, as amended; H.R. 8163, as amended; H.R. 8510, as amended; H.R. 8681, as amended; H.R. 8875, as amended; H.R. 8956; S. 1198; and agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 5641. (text: CR H8186)
action_date: 2022-09-29
text: Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 10 of H. Res. 1396, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 1638, as amended; H.R. 3304, as amended; H.R. 4081, as amended; H.R. 4821, as amended; H.R. 6889, as amended; H.R. 6967, as amended; H.R. 8163, as amended; H.R. 8510, as amended; H.R. 8681, as amended; H.R. 8875, as amended; H.R. 8956; S. 1198; and agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 5641.
action_date: 2022-09-29
text: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1396, proceedings on S. 1198 are considered vacated.
action_date: 2022-09-28
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2022-09-28
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1198.
action_date: 2022-09-28
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8186-8190)
action_date: 2022-09-28
text: Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2022-09-20
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2022-09-20
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Passed Senate, under the order of 9/15/22, with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S4812)
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate, under the order of 9/15/22, with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: The committee substitute, under the order of 9/15/22, withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4812)
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Senate vitiated previous passage, under the order of 9/15/22. (CR S4812)
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Papers returned to Senate
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Senate request return of papers
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST RETURN OF PAPERS - That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to request the House of Representatives to return to the Senate the bill (S. 1198) entitled "An Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve and expand the Solid State program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Senate requests return of papers with respect to S. 1198 by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2022-09-09
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2022-09-09
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2022-09-08
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2022-09-08
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S4519; text: CR S4519)
action_date: 2022-09-08
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2022-08-04
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 478.
action_date: 2022-08-04
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2022-08-04
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-07-28
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-06-23
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.
action_date: 2021-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 117-205