S.Amdt. 2964

SA 2964. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 2910 proposed by Mr. Shelby to the bill H.R. 5895,
making appropriations for energy and water development and related
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title II of division C, add the following:

SEC. 2__. PROGRAM ON USE OF WELLNESS PROGRAMS AS
COMPLEMENTARY APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE
FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF VETERANS.

(a) Program Required.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
carry out a program through the award of grants to public or
private nonprofit entities to assess the feasibility and
advisability of using wellness programs to complement the
provision of mental health care to veterans and family
members eligible for counseling under section 1712A(a)(1)(C)
of title 38, United States Code.
(2) Matters to be addressed.--The program shall be carried
out so as to assess the following:
(A) Means of improving coordination between Federal, State,
local, and community providers of health care in the
provision of mental health care to veterans and family
members described in paragraph (1).
(B) Means of enhancing outreach, and coordination of
outreach, by and among providers of health care referred to
in subparagraph (A) on the mental health care services
available to veterans and family members described in
paragraph (1).
(C) Means of using wellness programs of providers of health
care referred to in subparagraph (A) as complements to the
provision by the Department of Veterans Affairs of mental
health care to veterans and family members described in
paragraph (1).
(D) Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C)
are effective in enhancing the quality of life and well-being
of veterans and family members described in paragraph (1).
(E) Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C)
are effective in increasing the adherence of veterans
described in paragraph (1) to the primary mental health
services provided such veterans by the Department.
(F) Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C)
have an impact on the sense of wellbeing of veterans
described in paragraph (1) who receive primary mental health
services from the Department.
(G) Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C)
are effective in encouraging veterans receiving health care
from the Department to adopt a more healthy lifestyle.
(b) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the program
for a period of three years beginning on the date that is one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the program
at facilities of the Department providing mental health care
services to veterans and family members described in
subsection (a)(1).
(d) Grant Proposals.--
(1) In general.--A public or private nonprofit entity
seeking the award of a grant under this section shall submit
an application therefor to the Secretary in such form and in
such manner as the Secretary may require.
(2) Application contents.--Each application submitted under
paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) A plan to coordinate activities under the program, to
the extent possible, with Federal, State, and local providers
of services for veterans to enhance the following:
(i) Awareness by veterans of benefits and health care
services provided by the Department.
(ii) Outreach efforts to increase the use by veterans of
services provided by the Department.
(iii) Educational efforts to inform veterans of the
benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle.
(B) A statement of understanding from the entity submitting
the application that, if selected, such entity will be
required to report to the Secretary periodically on
standardized data and other performance data necessary to
evaluate individual outcomes and to facilitate evaluations
among entities participating in the program.
(C) Other requirements that the Secretary may prescribe.
(e) Grant Uses.--
(1) In general.--A public or private nonprofit entity
awarded a grant under this section shall use the award for
purposes prescribed by the Secretary.
(2) Eligible veterans and family.--In carrying out the
purposes prescribed by the Secretary in paragraph (1), a
public or private nonprofit entity awarded a grant under this
section shall use the award to furnish services only to
individuals specified in section 1712A(a)(1)(C) of title 38,
United States Code.
(f) Reports.--
(1) Periodic reports.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the commencement of the program, and every 180 days
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report
on the program.
(B) Report elements.--Each report required by subparagraph
(A) shall include the following:
(i) The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with
respect to the program during the 180-day period preceding
the report.
(ii) An assessment of the benefits of the program to
veterans and their family members during the 180-day period
preceding the report.
(2) Final report.--Not later than 180 days after the end of
the program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report
detailing the recommendations of the Secretary as to the
advisability of continuing or expanding the program.
(g) Wellness Defined.--In this section, the term
``wellness'' has the meaning given that term in regulations
prescribed by the Secretary.
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