In the nature of a substitute.

This amendment's own text couldn't be picked out of its Congressional Record passage, so the passage is shown in full.

SOLID START ACT OF 2021

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. As if in legislative session and
under the previous order, the Senate, having received from the House
the returned papers with respect to S. 1198, the actions of the Senate
on September 8, 2022, are vitiated; the committee-reported substitute
is withdrawn; the Tester amendment at the desk, No. 5505, is agreed to;
the bill, as amended, is considered read a third time and passed; and
the motions to reconsider are considered made and laid upon the table.
  Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to consider (S. 1198) a bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to improve and expand the Solid Start
program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute is
withdrawn.
  The amendment (No. 5505) in the nature of a substitute is agreed to
as follows:

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Solid Start Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. SOLID START PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 38, United States
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
     subchapter:

        ``SUBCHAPTER II--OTHER OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

     ``Sec. 6320. Solid Start program

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a program,
     to be known as the `Solid Start program', under which the
     Secretary shall--
       ``(1) build the capacity of the Department to efficiently
     and effectively respond to the queries and needs of veterans
     who have recently separated from the Armed Forces; and
       ``(2) systemically integrate and coordinate efforts to
     assist veterans, including efforts--
       ``(A) to proactively reach out to newly separated veterans
     to inform them of their eligibility for programs of and
     benefits provided by the Department; and
       ``(B) to connect veterans in crisis to resources that
     address their immediate needs.
       ``(b) Activities of the Solid Start Program.--(1) The
     Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense,
     shall carry out the Solid Start program of the Department
     by--
       ``(A) collecting up-to-date contact information during
     transition classes or separation counseling for all members
     of the Armed Forces who are separating from the Armed Forces,
     while explaining the existence and purpose of the Solid Start
     program;
       ``(B) calling each veteran, regardless of separation type
     or characterization of service, three times within the first
     year after separation of the veteran from the Armed Forces;
       ``(C) providing information about the Solid Start program
     on the website of the Department and in materials of the
     Department, especially transition booklets and other
     resources;
       ``(D) ensuring calls are truly tailored to the needs of
     each veteran's unique situation by conducting quality
     assurance tests;
       ``(E) prioritizing outreach to veterans who have accessed
     mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed
     Forces;
       ``(F) providing women veterans with information that is
     tailored to their specific health care and benefit needs;
       ``(G) as feasible, providing information on access to State
     and local resources, including Vet Centers and veterans
     service organizations; and
       ``(H) gathering and analyzing data assessing the
     effectiveness of the Solid Start program.
       ``(2) The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of
     Defense, may carry out the Solid Start program by--
       ``(A) encouraging members of the Armed Forces who are
     transitioning to civilian life to authorize alternate points
     of contact who can be reached should the member be
     unavailable during the first year following the separation of
     the member from the Armed Forces; and
       ``(B) following up missed phone calls with tailored
     mailings to ensure the veteran still receives similar
     information.
       ``(3) In this subsection:
       ``(A) The term `Vet Center' has the meaning given that term
     in section 1712A(h) of this title.
       ``(B) The term `veterans service organization' means an
     organization recognized by the Secretary for the
     representation of veterans under section 5902 of this
     title.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 63 of such title, as
     amended by subsection (a), is further amended--
       (1) by inserting before section 6301 the following:

              ``Subchapter I--Outreach Services Program'';

     and
       (2) in sections 6301, 6303, 6304, 6305, 6306, and 6307, by
     striking ``this chapter'' each place it appears and inserting
     ``this subchapter''.
       (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of sections at the
     beginning of chapter 63 of such title is amended--
       (1) by inserting before the item relating to section 6301
     the following new item:

              ``subchapter i--outreach services program'';

     and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new items:

         ``subchapter ii--other outreach programs and activities

``6320. Solid Start program.''.

  The bill (S. 1198), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

                          ____________________