To amend titles 36 and 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out actions for certain surviving family members of veterans deceased as the result of suicide, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-hr-5036
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]
Introduced: 2021-08-13
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2022-11-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-08-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out specified actions for the next of kin of veterans who died of suicide on or after September 11, 2001, such as providing free counseling to the next of kin and volunteer caregivers.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5036 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 13, 2021 Mr. Van Drew introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs , and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend titles 36 and 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out actions for certain surviving family members of veterans deceased as the result of suicide, and for other purposes.

1. Green Star Flag for next of kin of veterans deceased as result of suicide (a) Green Star Flag Chapter 9 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 904. Green Star Flag (a) Designation The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall design and designate a flag as the Green Star Flag to identify next of kin of covered veterans. (b) Individuals entitled To display Green Star Flag An individual who is next of kin of a covered veteran may display the Green Star Flag. (c) License To manufacture and sell Any person may apply to the Secretary for a license to manufacture and sell the designated Green Star Flag. A person that manufactures a Green Star Flag without having first obtained a license or otherwise violates this section is liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered veteran means a veteran who died— (A) on or after September 11, 2001; and (B) as the result of suicide. (2) The term next of kin includes— (A) a family member, as that term is defined in section 1720K of title 38; and (B) any individual specified by the Secretary in regulations prescribed pursuant to this section. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 904. Green Star Flag. . 2. Counseling program for certain family members and caregivers of veterans deceased as a result of suicide (a) Counseling program Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1720K. Counseling program for certain family members and caregivers of veterans deceased as a result of suicide (a) Counseling program (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall furnish, at no cost to the recipient, counseling services to— (A) the next of kin of covered veterans; and (B) former volunteer caregivers of covered veterans. (2) The Secretary may provide counseling services under this section only if the Secretary determines such counseling services are— (A) reasonably accessible to the an individual described in paragraph (1); and (B) substantially equivalent or superior to similar services furnished by the Secretary to an individual described in paragraph (1). (3) To carry out subsection (a), the Secretary may enter into an agreement with a Federal, State, or private entity. The Secretary may provide fair compensation to such entity pursuant to such agreement. (b) Public awareness In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) publish information relating to the program on an internet website of the Department; and (2) provide information relating to the program to any individual described in paragraph (1). (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The terms covered veteran and next of kin has the meaning given that term in section 904 of title 36. (2) The term covered veterans service organization includes— (A) an organization recognized by the Secretary for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of this title; and (B) an organization— (i) that is described in section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; and (ii) that carries out activities relating to veterans and their assistance. (3) The term family member means, with respect to a covered veteran, an individual— (A) who is a member of the family of the veteran, including— (i) a parent or legal guardian; (ii) a spouse; (iii) a child; (iv) a step-family member; and (v) an extended family member; or (B) who, prior to the death of the covered veteran, lived with the covered veteran. (4) The term former volunteer caregiver means, with respect to a covered veteran, an individual— (A) who is at least 18 years of age; and (B) who, prior to the death of the covered veteran, and in connection with a covered veterans service organization, furnished the covered veteran with counseling, social work, or other personal care services— (i) without compensation to such individual; and (ii) for a period of at least three months. (5) The term personal care services has the meaning given that term in section 1720G of this title. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter II of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting, after the item relating to section 1720J, the following new item: 1720K. Counseling program for certain family members and caregivers of veterans deceased as a result of suicide. . (c) Commencement The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out section 1720K of such title, as added by subsection (a), by not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.