S.Amdt. 6072

1. Adds SEC. 1077. PILOT PROGRAM FOR TRAVEL COST REIMBURSEMENT FOR VETERANS ACCESSING READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICES at the end of subtitle G of title X

   Adds a section

   In S.Amdt. 5499 as proposed

   (2) as a recognition of Senator Inhofe's long history of engaging with, and advocating for, Africa, the Department of Defense Africa Center for Strategic Studies should be renamed the James M. Inhofe Center for Africa Strategic Studies.

   Inserted: SEC. 1077. PILOT PROGRAM FOR TRAVEL COST REIMBURSEMENT FOR VETERANS ACCESSING READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICES.

   Inserted: (a) Pilot Program Required.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish and commence a pilot program, within the Readjustment Counseling Service of the Veterans Health Administration, to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing payment to cover or offset financial difficulties of an individual in accessing or using transportation to and from the nearest Vet Center providing the necessary readjustment counseling services for the plan of service of the individual.

   Inserted: (b) Participation.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--In carrying out the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall limit participation--

   Inserted: (A) by individuals pursuant to paragraph (2); and

   Inserted: (B) by Vet Centers pursuant to paragraph (3).

   Inserted: (2) Participation by individuals.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--The Secretary shall limit participation in the pilot program to individuals who are--

   Inserted: (i) eligible for services at a Vet Center participating in the pilot program; and

   Inserted: (ii) experiencing financial hardship.

   Inserted: (B) Financial hardship.--The Secretary shall determine the meaning of "financial hardship" for purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii).

   Inserted: (3) Participation of vet centers.--Vet Centers participating in the program shall be chosen by the Secretary from among those Vet Centers serving individuals in areas designated by the Secretary as rural, highly rural, or Tribal land.

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   Inserted: (c) Travel Allowances and Reimbursements.--Under the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide a participating individual a travel allowance or reimbursement at the earliest time practicable, but not later than 10 business days before the date of the appointment for which such allowance or reimbursement is to be used.

   Inserted: (d) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program required by subsection (a) during the five-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.

   Inserted: (e) Locations.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at not fewer than five locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program.

   Inserted: (2) Existing initiative.--Of the locations selected under paragraph (1), four of which shall be the locations participating in the initiative required under section 104 of the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-154; 126 Stat. 1169) as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

   Inserted: (f) Annual Reports.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the commencement of the pilot program required by subsection (a) and each year thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the pilot program.

   Inserted: (2) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

   Inserted: (A) The number of individuals who benefitted from the pilot program, disaggregated by age, race or ethnicity, and sex, to the extent possible.

   Inserted: (B) The average distance traveled by each individual to a Vet Center under the pilot program.

   Inserted: (C) The definition of financial hardship determined by the Secretary under subsection (b)(2)(B).

   Inserted: (D) A description of how funds are distributed under the pilot program.

   Inserted: (E) The average amount of funds distributed per instance, disaggregated by Vet Center.

   Inserted: (F) A description of any impediments to the Secretary in paying expenses or allowances under the pilot program.

   Inserted: (G) An assessment of the potential for fraudulent receipt of payment under the pilot program and the recommendations of the Secretary for legislative or administrative action to reduce such fraud.

   Inserted: (H) Such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate with respect to the payment of such expenses or allowances.

   Inserted: (g) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term "Vet Center" means a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

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As printed