[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 67 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
1st Session
H. R. 67
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 24, 2007
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach
activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of
2007''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF OUTREACH ACTIVITIES WITHIN DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:
``SUBCHAPTER IV--OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
``Sec. 561. Outreach activities: coordination of activities within the
Department
``(a) Coordination Procedures.--The Secretary shall establish and
maintain procedures for ensuring the effective coordination of the
outreach activities of the Department between and among the following:
``(1) The Office of the Secretary.
``(2) The Office of Public Affairs.
``(3) The Veterans Health Administration.
``(4) The Veterans Benefits Administration.
``(5) The National Cemetery Administration.
``(b) Annual Review of Procedures.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) annually review the procedures in effect under
subsection (a) for the purpose of ensuring that those
procedures meet the requirements of that subsection; and
``(2) make such modifications to those procedures as the
Secretary considers appropriate in light of such review in
order to better achieve that purpose.
``Sec. 562. Outreach activities: cooperative activities with States;
grants to States for improvement of outreach
``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to provide for
assistance by the Secretary to State and county veterans agencies to
carry out programs in locations within the respective jurisdictions of
such agencies that offer a high probability of improving outreach and
assistance to veterans, and to the spouses, children, and parents of
veterans, to ensure that such individuals are fully informed about, and
assisted in applying for, any veterans' and veterans-related benefits
and programs (including State veterans' programs) for which they may be
eligible.
``(b) Priority for Areas With High Concentration of Eligible
Individuals.--In providing assistance under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to State and county veteran agencies in locations--
``(1) that have relatively large concentrations of
populations of veterans and other individuals referred to in
subsection (a); or
``(2) that are experiencing growth in the population of
veterans and other individuals referred to in subsection (a).
``(c) Contracts for Outreach Services.--The Secretary may enter
into a contract with a State or county veterans agency in order to
carry out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise enhance outreach by the
Department and the State or county (including outreach with respect to
a State or county veterans program). As a condition of entering into
any such contract, the Secretary shall require the agency to submit
annually to the Secretary a three-year plan for the use of any funds
provided to the agency pursuant to the contract and to meet the annual
outcome measures developed by the Secretary under subsection (d)(4).
``(d) Grants.--(1) The Secretary may make a grant to a State or
county veterans agency to be used to carry out, coordinate, improve, or
otherwise enhance--
``(A) outreach activities, including activities carried out
pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (c); and
``(B) activities to assist in the development and submittal
of claims for veterans and veterans-related benefits, including
activities carried out pursuant to a contract entered into
under subsection (c).
``(2) A State veterans agency that receives a grant under this
subsection may award all or a portion of the grant to county veterans
agencies within the State to provide outreach services for veterans, on
the basis of the number of veterans residing in the jurisdiction of
each county.
``(3) To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, a State or
county veterans agency shall submit to the Secretary an application
containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may
require. The Secretary shall require a State or county veterans agency
to include, as part of the agency's application--
``(A) a three-year plan for the use of the grant; and
``(B) a description of the programs through which the
agency will meet the annual outcome measures developed by the
Secretary under paragraph (4).
``(4)(A) The Secretary shall develop and provide to the recipient
of a grant under this subsection written guidance on annual outcome
measures, Department policies, and procedures for applying for grants
under this section.
``(B) The Secretary shall annually review the performance of each
State or county veterans agency that receives a grant under this
section.
``(C) In the case of a State or county veterans agency that is a
recipient of a grant under this subsection that does not meet the
annual outcome measures developed by the Secretary, the Secretary shall
require the agency to submit a remediation plan under which the agency
shall describe how and when it plans to meet such outcome measures. The
Secretary must approve such plan before the Secretary may make a
subsequent grant to that agency under this subsection.
``(5) No portion of any grant awarded under this subsection may be
used for the purposes of administering the grant funds or to subsidize
the salaries of State or county veterans service officers or other
employees of a State or county veterans agency that receives a grant
under this subsection.
``(6) Federal funds provided to a State or county veterans agency
under this subsection may not be used to provide more than 50 percent
of the total cost of the State or county government activities
described in paragraph (1) and shall be used to expand existing
outreach programs and services and not to supplant State and local
funding that is otherwise available.
``(7) In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall
give priority to State and county veterans agencies that serve the
largest populations of veterans.
``(8)(A) In a case in which a county government does not have a
county veterans agency, the county government may be awarded a grant
under this subsection to establish such an agency.
``(B) In a case in which a county government does not have a county
veterans agency and does not seek to establish such an agency through
the use of a grant under this subsection, the State veterans agency for
the State in which the county is located may use a grant under this
section to provide outreach services for that county.
``(C) In the case of a State in which no State or county veterans
agency seeks to receive a grant under this subsection, the funds that
would otherwise be allocated for that State shall be reallocated to
those States in which county veterans agencies exist and have sought
grants under this subsection.
``(9) A grant under this subsection may be used to provide
education and training, including on-the-job training, for State,
county, and local government employees who provide (or when trained
will provide) veterans outreach services in order for those employees
to obtain accreditation in accordance with procedures approved by the
Secretary and, for employees so accredited, for purposes of continuing
education.
``(e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
``(1) The term `State veterans agency' means the element of the
government of a State that has responsibility for programs and
activities of that State government relating to veterans benefits.
``(2) The term `county veterans agency' means the element of the
government of a county or municipality that has responsibility for
programs and activities of that county or municipal government relating
to veterans benefits.
``Sec. 563. Outreach activities: funding
``(a) Separate Account.--Amounts for the outreach activities of the
Department under this subchapter shall be budgeted and appropriated
through a separate appropriation account.
``(b) Separate Statement of Amount.--In the budget justification
materials submitted to Congress in support of the Department budget for
any fiscal year (as submitted with the budget of the President under
section 1105(a) of title 31), the Secretary shall include a separate
statement of the amount requested to be appropriated for that fiscal
year for the account specified in subsection (a).
``Sec. 564. Definition of outreach
``For purposes of 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.
``Sec. 565. Authorization of appropriations
``There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each
of fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010, $25,000,000 to carry out this
subchapter, including making grants under section 562(d) of this
title.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new items:
``subchapter iv--outreach activities
``561. Outreach activities: coordination of activities within the
Department.
``562. Outreach activities: cooperative activities with States; grants
to States for improvement of outreach.
``563. Outreach activities: funding.
``564. Definition of outreach.
``565. Authorization of appropriations.''.
(c) Deadline for Implementation.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall implement the outreach activities required under subchapter IV of
chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a),
by not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives May 23, 2007.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.