H.R. 4012

Native American Veterans Language Assistance Act of 2007

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I

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4012

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 30, 2007

Mrs. Wilson of New Mexico introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To establish a grant program to provide Native American veterans with language resources to facilitate access to medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Native American Veterans Language Assistance Act of 2007.

2.

Native American veterans language assistance grant program

(a)

Grant program

The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program to make competitive grants to eligible entities in accordance with this section. The purpose of such grants is to improve access to, delivery of, and follow-up of medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to Native American veterans who speak native languages by providing interpreters or other language resources.

(b)

Eligible entity

For purposes of this section, the term eligible entity means any medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(c)

Amount of grant

The amount of a grant under this section shall be determined by the Secretary, but may not exceed $100,000.

(d)

Use of grant funds

An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use the grant to provide interpreters or other language tools to assist Native American veterans who speak native languages with access to, delivery of, and follow-up of medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(e)

Competition for grant

An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application for the grant. The application shall be in such form and shall contain such information as the Secretary may require. From the applications submitted, the Secretary shall approve those applications that the Secretary determines to be the most promising in carrying out the purposes of the grant program. When considering such applications, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity serving an area with a large population of Native American veterans. At the Secretary’s discretion, an eligible entity may receive more than one grant during any fiscal year and may receive grants in more than one fiscal year.

(f)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.