To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hr-4635
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6]
Introduced: 2017-12-13
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Mental health

Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Veterans' medical care

Women's employment

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2018-06-14
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-12-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that the veterans peer counseling program includes a sufficient number of peer counselors for women veterans. </p> <p>Such counselors may be VA employees and may have expertise in: (1) gender-specific issues and services, (2) VA services and benefits, and (3) employment mentoring. </p> <p>The VA shall: (1) emphasize facilitating peer-to-peer counseling for women veterans who suffered sexual trauma while in the Armed Forces, have post-traumatic stress disorder or suffer from another mental health condition, or are otherwise at risk of becoming homeless; (2) conduct program outreach; and (3) coordinate with community organizations, state and local governments, institutions of higher education, local business organizations, and legal assistance organizations.</p>

action_date: 2018-05-18
action_desc: Reported to House with amendment(s)
text: <p>This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to emphasize appointing peer support counselors for women veterans. The VA shall recruit women peer support counselors with expertise in gender-specific issues and services, VA services and benefits, and employment mentoring. </p> <p>The VA shall: </p> <ul> <li>emphasize peer support counseling for women veterans who suffered sexual trauma while in the Armed Forces, have post-traumatic stress disorder or another mental health condition, are homeless, or are at risk of suicide; </li> <li>conduct program outreach; </li> <li> coordinate with community, business, educational, and state and local government entities; and </li> <li> provide peer support counselor training.</li> </ul>

action_date: 2018-06-13
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>(Sec. 1) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to emphasize appointing peer support counselors for women veterans. The VA shall recruit women peer support counselors with expertise in gender-specific issues and services, VA services and benefits, and employment mentoring.</p> <p>The VA shall: </p> <ul> <li>emphasize peer support counseling for women veterans who suffered sexual trauma while in the Armed Forces, have post-traumatic stress disorder or another mental health condition, are homeless, or are at risk of suicide; </li> <li>conduct program outreach; </li> <li> coordinate with community, business, educational, and state and local government entities; and </li> <li> provide peer support counselor training.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4635 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 13, 2017 Mr. Coffman (for himself and Ms. Esty of Connecticut ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Peer-to-peer counseling program for women veterans (a) In general Section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) (A) As part of the counseling program under this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that the program includes a sufficient number of peer counselors for women veterans to meet the demand for such counselors. Such counselors may be employees of the Department and may have expertise in— (i) gender-specific issues and services; (ii) the provision of information about services and benefits provided under laws administered by the Secretary; and (iii) employment mentoring. (B) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall emphasize facilitating peer-to-peer counseling for women veterans who suffered sexual trauma while serving in the Armed Forces, have post-traumatic stress disorder or suffer from another mental health condition, or are otherwise at risk of becoming homeless. (C) The Secretary shall conduct outreach to inform women veterans about the program and the assistance available under the program. (D) (i) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall facilitate engagement and coordination with such community organizations, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, chambers of commerce, local business organizations, organizations that provide legal assistance, and other organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate to facilitate the transition of women described in subparagraph (A) into their communities. (ii) To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall coordinate facilitation of assistance under this paragraph with the program carried out under section 1144 of title 10. . (b) Funding The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out paragraph (4) of section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), using funds otherwise made available to the Secretary. No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated by reason of such paragraph.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 530 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4635 [Report No. 115–687] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 13, 2017 Mr. Coffman (for himself and Ms. Esty of Connecticut ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs May 18, 2018 Additional sponsors: Mr. Cole , Mr. Costello of Pennsylvania , Mr. Himes , Ms. Lofgren , Mr. Bishop of Michigan , Mr. Poliquin , Mrs. Dingell , Ms. Moore , Mr. O'Rourke , Ms. Clarke of New York , Mr. Rutherford , Mr. Kind , Mrs. Radewagen , Ms. Velázquez , Mr. Bilirakis , Miss González-Colón of Puerto Rico , Mr. Kilmer , Mr. Courtney , Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire , Ms. Brownley of California , Mr. Peters , Miss Rice of New York , Mr. Deutch , Mr. Bost , Ms. Shea-Porter , and Mr. Soto May 18, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on December 13, 2017 A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Peer support counseling program for women veterans (a) In general Section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) (A) As part of the counseling program under this subsection, the Secretary shall emphasize appointing peer support counselors for women veterans. To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall seek to recruit women peer support counselors with expertise in— (i) female gender-specific issues and services; (ii) the provision of information about services and benefits provided under laws administered by the Secretary; or (iii) employment mentoring. (B) To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall emphasize facilitating peer support counseling for women veterans who are eligible for counseling and services under section 1720D of this title, have post-traumatic stress disorder or suffer from another mental health condition, are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, or are otherwise at increased risk of suicide, as determined by the Secretary. (C) The Secretary shall conduct outreach to inform women veterans about the program and the assistance available under this paragraph. (D) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall coordinate with such community organizations, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, chambers of commerce, local business organizations, organizations that provide legal assistance, and other organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate. (E) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide adequate training for peer support counselors, including training carried out under the national program of training required by section 304(c) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 ( 38 U.S.C. 1712A note). . (b) Funding The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out paragraph (4) of section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), using funds otherwise made available to the Secretary. No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated by reason of such paragraph. (c) Report to Congress Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the peer support counseling program under section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by this section. Such report shall include— (1) the number of peer support counselors in the program; (2) an assessment of the effectiveness of the program; and (3) a description of the oversight of the program.

May 18, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: IB 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4635 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Peer support counseling program for women veterans (a) In general Section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) (A) As part of the counseling program under this subsection, the Secretary shall emphasize appointing peer support counselors for women veterans. To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall seek to recruit women peer support counselors with expertise in— (i) female gender-specific issues and services; (ii) the provision of information about services and benefits provided under laws administered by the Secretary; or (iii) employment mentoring. (B) To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall emphasize facilitating peer support counseling for women veterans who are eligible for counseling and services under section 1720D of this title, have post-traumatic stress disorder or suffer from another mental health condition, are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, or are otherwise at increased risk of suicide, as determined by the Secretary. (C) The Secretary shall conduct outreach to inform women veterans about the program and the assistance available under this paragraph. (D) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall coordinate with such community organizations, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, chambers of commerce, local business organizations, organizations that provide legal assistance, and other organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate. (E) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide adequate training for peer support counselors, including training carried out under the national program of training required by section 304(c) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 ( 38 U.S.C. 1712A note). . (b) Funding The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out paragraph (4) of section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), using funds otherwise made available to the Secretary. No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated by reason of such paragraph. (c) Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the peer support counseling program under section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by this section. Such report shall include— (1) the number of peer support counselors in the program; (2) an assessment of the effectiveness of the program; and (3) a description of the oversight of the program.

Passed the House of Representatives June 13, 2018. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4635 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 14, 2018 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Peer support counseling program for women veterans (a) In general Section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) (A) As part of the counseling program under this subsection, the Secretary shall emphasize appointing peer support counselors for women veterans. To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall seek to recruit women peer support counselors with expertise in— (i) female gender-specific issues and services; (ii) the provision of information about services and benefits provided under laws administered by the Secretary; or (iii) employment mentoring. (B) To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall emphasize facilitating peer support counseling for women veterans who are eligible for counseling and services under section 1720D of this title, have post-traumatic stress disorder or suffer from another mental health condition, are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, or are otherwise at increased risk of suicide, as determined by the Secretary. (C) The Secretary shall conduct outreach to inform women veterans about the program and the assistance available under this paragraph. (D) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall coordinate with such community organizations, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, chambers of commerce, local business organizations, organizations that provide legal assistance, and other organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate. (E) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide adequate training for peer support counselors, including training carried out under the national program of training required by section 304(c) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 ( 38 U.S.C. 1712A note). . (b) Funding The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out paragraph (4) of section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), using funds otherwise made available to the Secretary. No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated by reason of such paragraph. (c) Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the peer support counseling program under section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by this section. Such report shall include— (1) the number of peer support counselors in the program; (2) an assessment of the effectiveness of the program; and (3) a description of the oversight of the program.

Passed the House of Representatives June 13, 2018. Karen L. Haas, Clerk