Veterans and Family Information Act

Bill: 117-hr-2093
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8]
Introduced: 2021-03-19
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals

Congressional oversight

Department of Veterans Affairs

Family services

Foreign language and bilingual programs

Government information and archives

Military personnel and dependents

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2021-11-22
text: Became Public Law No: 117-62.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-03-19
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Veterans and Family Information Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make all of its fact sheets available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages not listed. 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: 2021-06-15
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><b>Veterans and Family Information Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make all of its fact sheets available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages not listed. 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: 2021-11-02
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p><b>Veterans and Family Information Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make all of its fact sheets available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages not listed. 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: 2021-11-22
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p><b>Veterans and Family Information Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make all of its fact sheets available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages not listed. 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 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2093 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 19, 2021 Mr. Jeffries (for himself and Mrs. Kim of California ) 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 available in English, Spanish, and Tagalog, and other commonly spoken languages, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans and Family Information Act . 2. Fact sheets (a) Languages The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available versions of all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in— (1) English; (2) Spanish; (3) Tagalog; and (4) each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages, other than English, in the United States that are not otherwise covered by paragraphs (2) and (3). (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.

tv_txt: IIB 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2093 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 16, 2021 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs available in English, Spanish, and Tagalog, and other commonly spoken languages, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans and Family Information Act . 2. Fact sheets (a) Languages The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available versions of all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in— (1) English; (2) Spanish; (3) Tagalog; and (4) each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages, other than English, in the United States that are not otherwise covered by paragraphs (2) and (3). (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 June 15, 2021. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2093 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 available in English, Spanish, and Tagalog, and other commonly spoken languages, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans and Family Information Act . 2. Fact sheets (a) Languages The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available versions of all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in— (1) English; (2) Spanish; (3) Tagalog; and (4) each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages, other than English, in the United States that are not otherwise covered by paragraphs (2) and (3). (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 June 15, 2021. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: I One Hundred Seventeenth Congress of the United States of America At the First Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the fourth day of January, two thousand and twenty-one H. R. 2093 AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs available in English, Spanish, and Tagalog, and other commonly spoken languages, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans and Family Information Act . 2. Fact sheets (a) Languages The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available versions of all fact sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs in— (1) English; (2) Spanish; (3) Tagalog; and (4) each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages, other than English, in the United States that are not otherwise covered by paragraphs (2) and (3). (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.

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.