United States 118th Congress Status: Passed Senate 1 D cosponsors

S 106 — Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act

Last action — Held at the desk.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

24 added · 205 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill S 106 was revised to include a more detailed definition of "covered outreach," which focuses on outreach activities related to benefits administered by the Under Secretary for Benefits or similar benefits from a State or Indian Tribe. Additionally, the term "Veterans Crisis Line" was defined as the toll-free title. The changes improve clarity regarding the scope of outreach to veterans, spouses, and underserved communities.

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106 Reported in Senate (RS)] <DOC> Calendar No.
106 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
117 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
106 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to States to improve outreach to veterans, and for other purposes.
106 To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to States to improve outreach to veterans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
_______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 26, 2023 Ms.
Baldwin (for herself, Mr.
Sullivan, Mr.
Sanders, Mr.
Cramer, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mr.
Barrasso, Mr.
King, Ms.
Stabenow, Mr.
Casey, and Mr.
Van Hollen) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs July 10, 2023 Reported by Mr.
Tester, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to States to improve outreach to veterans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <DELETED>SECTION 1.
SHORT TITLE.</DELETED> <DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act''.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
2.
AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO AWARD GRANTS TO STATES TO IMPROVE OUTREACH TO VETERANS.</DELETED> <DELETED> (a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) by redesignating sections 6307 and 6308 and sections 6308 and 6309, respectively;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) by inserting after section 6306 the following new section 6307:</DELETED> <DELETED>``Sec.
6307.
Grants to States to improve outreach to veterans</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to provide for assistance by the Secretary to States to carry out programs that improve outreach and assistance to veterans and the spouses, children, and parents of veterans, to ensure that such individuals are fully informed about, and assisted in applying for, any veterans and veterans-related benefits and programs (including State veterans programs) for which they may be eligible.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(b) Authority.--The Secretary may award grants to States--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) to carry out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise enhance--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) outreach activities;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) activities to assist in the development and submittal of claims for veterans and veterans-related benefits;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) to increase the number of county or tribal veterans service officers serving in the State by hiring new, additional such officers.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(c) Application.--(1) To be eligible for a grant under this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) A detailed plan for the use of the grant.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) A description of the programs through which the State will meet the outcome measures developed by the Secretary under subsection (i).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(C) A description of how the State will distribute grant amounts equitably among counties with varying levels of urbanization.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(D) A plan for how the grant will be used to meet the unique needs of American Indian veterans, Alaska Native veterans, or Native Hawaiian veterans, elderly veterans, women veterans, and veterans from other underserved communities.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(d) Distribution.--The Secretary shall seek to ensure that grants awarded under this section are equitably distributed among States with varying levels of urbanization.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(e) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize awarding grants under this section that will serve the following areas:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) Areas with a critical shortage of county or tribal veterans service officers.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) Areas with high rates of--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) suicide among veterans;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) referrals to the Veterans Crisis Line.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(f) Use of County or Tribal Veterans Service Officers.-- A State that receives a grant under this section to carry out an activity described in subsection (b)(1) shall carry out the activity through--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) a county or tribal veterans service officer of the State;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) if the State does not have a county or tribal veterans service officer, or if the county or tribal veterans service officers of the State cover only a portion of that State, an appropriate entity of a State, local, or tribal government, or another publicly funded entity, as determined by the Secretary.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(g) Required Activities.--Any grant awarded under this section shall be used--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) to expand existing programs, activities, and services;</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) to hire new, additional county or tribal veterans service officers;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(3) for travel and transportation to facilitate carrying out paragraph (1) or (2).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(h) Authorized Activities.--A grant under this section may be used to provide education and training, including on-the-job training, for State, county, local, and tribal government employees who provide (or when trained will provide) veterans outreach services in order for those employees to obtain accreditation in accordance with procedures approved by the Secretary.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(i) Outcome Measures.--(1) The Secretary shall develop and provide to each State that receives a grant under this section written guidance on the following:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) Outcome measures.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) Policies of the Department.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) In developing outcome measures under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the following goals:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) Increasing the use of veterans and veterans- related benefits, particularly among vulnerable populations.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) Increasing the number of county and tribal veterans service officers recognized by the Secretary for the representation of veterans under chapter 59 of this title.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(j) Tracking Requirements.--(1) With respect to each grant awarded under this section, the Secretary shall track the use of veterans and veterans-related benefits among the population served by the grant, including the average period of time between the date on which a veteran applies for such a benefit and the date on which the veteran receives the benefit, disaggregated by type of benefit.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) Not less frequently than annually, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the information tracked under paragraph (1).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(k) Performance Review.--(1) The Secretary shall-- </DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) review the performance of each State that receives a grant under this section;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) make information regarding such performance publicly available.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(l) Remediation Plan.--(1) In the case of a State that receives a grant under this section and does not meet the outcome measures developed by the Secretary under subsection (i), the Secretary shall require the State to submit a remediation plan under which the State shall describe how and when it plans to meet such outcome measures.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) The Secretary may not award a subsequent grant under this section to a State described in paragraph (1) unless the Secretary approves the remediation plan submitted by the State.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(m) Maximum Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under this section may not exceed 10 percent of amounts made available for grants under this section for the fiscal year in which the grant is awarded.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(n) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Any grant awarded under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant State and local funding that is otherwise available.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(o) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) The term `county or tribal veterans service officer' includes a local equivalent veterans service officer.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) The term `Veterans Crisis Line' means the toll-free hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of this title.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(p) Funding.--(1) Amounts for the activities of the Department under this section shall be budgeted and appropriated through a separate appropriation account.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) In the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the Department budget for any fiscal year (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31), the Secretary shall include a separate statement of the amount requested to be appropriated for that fiscal year for the account specified in paragraph (1).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(q) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years through 2027, $50,000,000 to carry out this section.''.</DELETED> <DELETED> (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 63 of such title is amended by striking the items relating to sections 6307 and 6308 and inserting the following new items:</DELETED> <DELETED>``6307.
Grants to States to improve outreach to veterans.
<DELETED>``6308.
Outreach for eligible dependents.
<DELETED>``6309.
Biennial report to Congress.''.
SECTION 1.
SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act''.
SEC.
2.
(a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 38, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by redesignating sections 6307 and 6308 and sections and 6309, respectively;
(a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 38, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by redesignating sections 6307 and 6308 as sections and 6309, respectively;
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Grants to States to improve outreach to veterans ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to provide for assistance by the Secretary to States to carry out programs that improve outreach and assistance to veterans and the spouses, children, and parents of veterans, to ensure that such individuals are fully informed about, and assisted in applying for, any veterans and veterans-related benefits and programs (including State veterans programs) for which they may be eligible.
Grants to States to improve outreach to veterans ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to provide for assistance by the Secretary to States to carry out programs that improve covered outreach and assistance to veterans and the spouses, children, and parents of veterans, to ensure that such individuals are fully informed about, and assisted in applying for, any veterans and veterans-related benefits and programs (including State veterans programs) for which they may be eligible.
``(b) Authority.--The Secretary may award grants to States-- ``(1) to carry out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise enhance-- ``(A) outreach activities;
``(b) Authority.--The Secretary may award grants to States-- ``(1) to carry out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise enhance-- ``(A) covered outreach activities;
``(D) A plan for how the grant will be used to meet the unique needs of American Indian veterans, Alaska Native veterans, or Native Hawaiian veterans, elderly veterans, women veterans, and veterans from other underserved communities.
``(D) A plan for how the grant will be used to meet the unique needs of American Indian veterans, Alaska Native veterans, or Native Hawaiian veterans, elderly veterans, and veterans from other underserved communities.
``(h) Authorized Activities.--A grant under this section may be used to provide education and training, including on-the-job training, for State, county, local, and tribal government employees who provide (or when trained will provide) veterans outreach services in order for those employees to obtain accreditation in accordance with procedures approved by the Secretary.
``(h) Authorized Activities.--A grant under this section may be used to provide education and training, including on-the-job training, for State, county, local, and tribal government employees who provide (or when trained will provide) covered outreach services in order for those employees to obtain accreditation in accordance with procedures approved by the Secretary.
``(m) Maximum Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under this section may not exceed 10 percent of amounts made available for grants under this section for the fiscal year in which the grant is awarded.
``(m) Definitions.--In this section:
``(n) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Any grant awarded under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant State and local funding that is otherwise available.
``(o) Definitions.--In this section:
``(2) The term `Veterans Crisis Line' means the toll-free hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of this title.
``(2) The term `covered outreach' means outreach with respect to-- ``(A) benefits administered by the Under Secretary for Benefits;
``(p) Funding.--(1) Amounts for the activities of the Department under this section shall be budgeted and appropriated through a separate appropriation account.
or ``(B) similar benefits administered by a State or Indian Tribe.
``(2) In the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the Department budget for any fiscal year (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31), the Secretary shall include a separate statement of the amount requested to be appropriated for that fiscal year for the account specified in paragraph (1).
``(3) The term `Veterans Crisis Line' means the toll-free hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of this title.''.
``(q) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025, $50,000,000 to carry out this section.''.
Calendar No.
Passed the Senate November 16 (legislative day, November 15), 2023.
117 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
Attest:
106 _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to States to improve outreach to veterans, and for other purposes.
Secretary.
_______________________________________________________________________ July 10, 2023 Reported with an amendment
118th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
106 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to States to improve outreach to veterans, and for other purposes.
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Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

  3. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  4. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  5. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  6. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 117.

  7. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5556-5558)

  8. The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.

  9. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S5557-5558)

  10. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S5557-5558)

  11. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  12. Received in the House.

  13. Held at the desk.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

veterans
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 106?
S 106 is sponsored by Baldwin, Tammy (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 106?
This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 106?
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