To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to State and local entities to carry out peer-to-peer mental health programs.

Bill: 115-hr-897
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Zeldin, Lee M. [R-NY-1]
Introduced: 2017-02-06
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies

Health programs administration and funding

Mental health

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2017-03-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-02-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the P.F.C. Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support program to make grants to eligible entities for peer-to-peer mental health programs for veterans. </p> <p>"Eligible entity" means: (1) a nonprofit organization having historically served the mental health needs of veterans; (2) a congressionally chartered veteran service organization; or (3) a state, local, or tribal veteran service agency, director, or commissioner. </p> <p>The VA shall establish an advisory committee to create appropriate program standards.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 897 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 6, 2017 Mr. Zeldin (for himself, Mr. King of New York , Mr. Suozzi , and Miss Rice of New York ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to State and local entities to carry out peer-to-peer mental health programs.

1. P.F.C. Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a grant program to be known as the P.F.C. Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program under which the Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities for the purpose of establishing peer-to-peer mental health programs for veterans. (b) Eligible entity defined In this section, the term eligible entity means any of the following entities that submit to the Secretary an application containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require: (1) A nonprofit organization having historically served veterans mental health needs. (2) A congressionally chartered veteran service organization. (3) A State, local, or tribal veteran service agency, director, or commissioner. (c) Amount of grant The recipient of a grant under this section shall receive a grant in an amount that does not exceed $250,000. (d) Use of funds The recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to— (1) carry out a program that meets the standards developed under subsection (e); (2) hire veterans to serve as peer specialists to host group and individual meetings with veterans seeking nonclinical support; (3) provide mental health support to veterans 24 hours each day, seven days each week; and (4) hire staff to support the program. (e) Program standards (1) Advisory commission The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee for the purpose of creating appropriate standards applicable to programs established using grants under this section. (2) Standards The standards developed under paragraph (1) shall include initial and continued training for veteran peer volunteers, administrative staffing needs, and best practices for addressing the needs of each veteran served. (f) Nonretention of records The Secretary may not require the recipient of a grant under this section to maintain records on veterans seeking support or to report any personally identifying information directly or indirectly to the Secretary about such veterans. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 to carry out this section during the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.