Providing Benefits Information in Spanish and Tagalog for Veterans and Families Act

Bill: 116-hr-2943
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray, Jr. [D-CA-39]
Introduced: 2019-05-23
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs

Foreign language and bilingual programs

Government information and archives
Latest action: action_date: 2019-07-24
text: Received in the Senate.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-05-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to make all of its fact sheets available in English and Spanish.</p>

action_date: 2019-07-18
action_desc: Reported to House
text: <p><b>Providing Benefits Information in Spanish and Tagalog for Veterans and Families Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make all of its fact sheets available in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. The bill also requires the VA to establish a publicly available website that provides links to all VA fact sheets. Finally, the VA must report to Congress regarding the utilization of such fact sheets as well as the details of the Language Access Plan of the VA.</p>

action_date: 2019-07-23
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><b>Providing Benefits Information in Spanish and Tagalog for Veterans and Families Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make all of its fact sheets available in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. The bill also requires the VA to establish a publicly available website that provides links to all VA fact sheets. Finally, the VA must report to Congress regarding the utilization of such fact sheets as well as the details of the Language Access Plan of the VA.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2943 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 23, 2019 Mr. Cisneros introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in English and Spanish.

1. Fact sheets The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make versions of all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in English and Spanish.

tv_txt: IB 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2943 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in English, Spanish, and Tagalog.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Providing Benefits Information in Spanish and Tagalog for Veterans and Families Act . 2. Fact sheets (a) Languages The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make versions of all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. (b) Website The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish and maintain a publicly available website of the Department of Veterans Affairs that contains links to all fact sheets of the Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration, and of the National Cemetery Administration. The website shall be accessible by a clearly labeled hyperlink on the homepage of the Department. (c) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit a report to Congress regarding fact sheets described in subsection (a) and details of the Language Access Plan of the Department of Veteran Affairs. The report shall include the following: (1) What the Secretary determines constitutes a fact sheet of the Department for purposes of this Act. (2) How such fact sheets are utilized and distributed other than on and through the website of the Department. (3) How such Language Access Plan is communicated to veterans, family members of veterans, and caregivers. (4) The roles and responsibilities of patient advocates in the coordination of care for veterans with limited English proficiency, family members of such veterans, and caregivers. (5) Other demographic information that the Secretary determines appropriate regarding veterans with limited English proficiency.

Passed the House of Representatives July 23, 2019. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2943 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 24, 2019 Received AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in English, Spanish, and Tagalog.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Providing Benefits Information in Spanish and Tagalog for Veterans and Families Act . 2. Fact sheets (a) Languages The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make versions of all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. (b) Website The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish and maintain a publicly available website of the Department of Veterans Affairs that contains links to all fact sheets of the Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration, and of the National Cemetery Administration. The website shall be accessible by a clearly labeled hyperlink on the homepage of the Department. (c) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit a report to Congress regarding fact sheets described in subsection (a) and details of the Language Access Plan of the Department of Veteran Affairs. The report shall include the following: (1) What the Secretary determines constitutes a fact sheet of the Department for purposes of this Act. (2) How such fact sheets are utilized and distributed other than on and through the website of the Department. (3) How such Language Access Plan is communicated to veterans, family members of veterans, and caregivers. (4) The roles and responsibilities of patient advocates in the coordination of care for veterans with limited English proficiency, family members of such veterans, and caregivers. (5) Other demographic information that the Secretary determines appropriate regarding veterans with limited English proficiency.

Passed the House of Representatives July 23, 2019. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 118 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2943 [Report No. 116–158] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 23, 2019 Mr. Cisneros introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs July 18, 2019 Additional sponsors: Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Cárdenas , Ms. Mucarsel-Powell , Ms. Escobar , and Mr. Gallego July 18, 2019 Reported with amendments, 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 May 23, 2019 A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in English and Spanish.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Providing Benefits Information in Spanish and Tagalog for Veterans and Families Act . 2. Fact sheets (a) Languages The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make versions of all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. (b) Website The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish and maintain a publicly available website of the Department of Veterans Affairs that contains links to all fact sheets of the Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration, and of the National Cemetery Administration. The website shall be accessible by a clearly labelled hyperlink on the homepage of the Department. (c) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit a report to Congress regarding fact sheets described in subsection (a) and details of the Language Access Plan of the Department of Veteran Affairs. The report shall include the following: (1) What the Secretary determines constitutes a fact sheet of the Department for purposes of this Act. (2) How such fact sheets are utilized and distributed other than on and through the website of the Department. (3) How such Language Access Plan is communicated to veterans, family members of veterans, and caregivers. (4) The roles and responsibilities of patient advocates in the coordination of care for veterans with limited English proficiency, family members of such veterans, and caregivers. (5) Other demographic information that the Secretary determines appropriate regarding veterans with limited English proficiency.

Amend the title so as to read: A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. .

July 18, 2019 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed