II
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1990
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 10, 2005
Mr. Burr introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of
2005
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Improvement of outreach activities within Department of Veterans Affairs
In general
Chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:
Outreach Activities
Purpose
It is the purpose of this subchapter to provide assistance to States for carrying out programs that—
improve outreach and assistance to veterans and the spouses, children, and parents of veterans; and
ensure that the individuals described in paragraph (1) are fully informed about, and assisted in applying for, any veterans and veterans-related benefits and programs (including State veterans programs) for which such individuals may be eligible.
Coordination within Department
The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure the effective coordination of the outreach activities of the Department among—
the Office of the Secretary;
the Office of Public Affairs;
the Veterans Health Administration;
the Veterans Benefits Administration; and
the National Cemetery Administration.
The Secretary shall—
annually review the procedures established under subsection (a) to ensure that such procedures accomplish the objective described in subsection (a); and
modify those procedures, as the Secretary considers appropriate, based upon the review under paragraph (1), to improve the attainment of the objective described in subsection (a).
Cooperative agreements with States
The Secretary shall ensure that assistance is provided by the Secretary for outreach and assistance under State and county veteran service programs referred to in section 561 of this title in locations—
that have relatively large concentrations of populations of veterans and other individuals referred to in section 561 of this title; or
that are experiencing growth in the population of veterans and other individuals referred to in section 561 of this title.
The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with State veterans agencies to carry out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise enhance outreach by the Department and the States, including outreach with respect to State veterans programs.
Grants to States for outreach improvement
The Secretary may award grants to State veterans agencies, which grants may be used to carry out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise enhance—
outreach, including activities under a cooperative agreement described in section 563(b) of this title; and
activities to assist in the development and submittal of claims for veterans and veterans-related benefits, including activities under a cooperative agreement described in section 563(b) of this title.
The Secretary shall allocate grant funds to States under this section based on the percentage of the veteran population residing in the respective States.
A State veterans agency receiving grant funds under this section shall allocate—
a portion of such grant funds to local governments of that State that are providing veterans outreach services, based on the number of veterans residing within the jurisdiction of each such local government;
a portion of such grant funds to local governments of that State that are seeking to establish a program of veterans outreach services; and
the remaining grant funds for outreach activities by that State veterans agency.
Grant funds awarded to a State under this section—
may not be used by the State for administrative costs;
may not be used to provide more than 50 percent of the total cost of the activities described in subsection (a); and
shall be used to expand existing outreach programs and services and not to supplant existing State and local funding for such programs and services.
Grant funds awarded under this section may be used to provide State and local government employees with—
sufficient training regarding veterans outreach services to allow such employees to obtain accreditation, in accordance with procedures approved by the Secretary; and
continuing education regarding veterans outreach services, if such employees have been accredited, as described in paragraph (1).
If a unit of local government does not have a veteran services program, grant funds under this subsection may be used to establish such a program.
If a unit of local government does not have a veteran services program and does not seek to use grant funds under this section to establish such a program, the State veterans agency may use grant funds under this subsection to provide outreach services for veterans residing within the jurisdiction of such local government.
If State and local government veteran service programs in a State do not seek to receive a grant amount under this section, the allocation calculated for that State under subsection (b) shall be reallocated to those States with local government veteran service programs that are seeking grant funds under this section.
Funding
Amounts for outreach activities of the Department under this subchapter shall be budgeted and appropriated through a separate appropriation account.
The Secretary shall include, in the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the Department budget for each fiscal year, a separate statement describing the amount requested to be appropriated for that fiscal year for the account specified in subsection (a).
Definitions
In this subchapter:
The term outreach means the act or process of taking steps in a systematic manner to provide information, services, and benefits counseling to veterans, and the survivors of veterans, who may be eligible to receive benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary to ensure that those individuals are fully informed about, and assisted in applying for, any benefits and programs under such laws for which they may be eligible.
The term state veterans agency means the department or agency of the government of a State that is responsible for programs and activities of that State government relating to veterans benefits.
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Clerical amendment
The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:
SUBCHAPTER IV—Outreach Activities
561. Purpose.
562. Coordination within Department.
563. Cooperative agreements with States.
564. Grants to States for outreach improvement.
565. Funding.
566. Definitions.
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Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008 to carry out the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).