To require coordination within the Department of Veterans Affairs to meet the readjustment and psychological counseling needs of veterans in rural and highly rural communities.

SA 3954. Ms. HEITKAMP (for herself, Ms. Collins, Mr. King, and Ms.
Murkowski) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment
SA 3896 proposed by Ms. Collins (for herself, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Reed, and
Mr. Tester) to the bill H.R. 2577, making appropriations for the
Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for
other purposes; as follows:

At the end of title II of division B, add the following:
Sec. 251. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
ensure that the Readjustment Counseling Service of the
Department of Veterans Affairs coordinates directly with the
Office of Rural Health of the Department on efforts to expand
the capacity of Vet Centers (as defined in section 1712A(h)
of title 38, United States Code) in order to ensure that the
readjustment and psychological counseling needs of veterans
in rural and highly rural communities are met.
(b) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report
detailing the number of Vet Centers (as so defined) operated
by the Department and a strategic plan to increase the
capacity of such Vet Centers to address unmet readjustment
and psychological counseling needs of veterans in rural and
highly rural communities.
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