---
kind: "diff"
citation: "H.R. 4635"
bill: "115-hr-4635"
heading: "To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans, and for other purposes."
from: "ih"
from_label: "Introduced in House"
to: "rh"
to_label: "Reported in House"
sections_amended: 1
sections_added: 0
sections_removed: 0
url: "https://uscodex.org/bills/115/hr/4635/changes/rh"
---

# H.R. 4635 — what changed

H.R. 4635, To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans, and for other purposes. — 1 section amended between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Edits are marked `<del>struck</del>` and `<ins>inserted</ins>`.

## Section 1 Peer support counseling program for women veterans

- (a) In general— Section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
  - “(4)
  - “(A) As part of the counseling program under this subsection, the Secretary shall <del>ensure that the program includes a sufficient number of </del><ins>emphasize appointing </ins>peer <ins>support </ins>counselors for women <del>veterans to meet </del><ins>veterans. To </ins>the <del>demand for such counselors. Such counselors may be employees of </del><ins>degree practicable, </ins>the <del>Department and may have </del><ins>Secretary shall seek to recruit women peer support counselors with </ins>expertise in—
  - “(i) <ins>female </ins>gender-specific issues and services;
  - “(ii) the provision of information about services and benefits provided under laws administered by the Secretary; <del>and</del><ins>or</ins>
  - “(iii) employment mentoring.
  - “(B) <del>In carrying out this paragraph, </del><ins>To </ins>the <ins>degree practicable, the </ins>Secretary shall emphasize facilitating <del>peer-to-peer </del><ins>peer support </ins>counseling for women veterans who <del>suffered sexual trauma while serving in the Armed Forces, </del><ins>are eligible for counseling and services under section 1720D of this title, </ins>have post-traumatic stress disorder or suffer from another mental health condition, <ins>are homeless </ins>or <ins>at risk of becoming homeless, or </ins>are otherwise at <ins>increased </ins>risk of <del>becoming homeless.</del><ins>suicide, as determined by the Secretary.</ins>
  - “(C) The Secretary shall conduct outreach to inform women veterans about the program and the assistance available under <del>the program.</del><ins>this paragraph.</ins>
  - <del>“(D)</del><ins>“(D) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall coordinate with such community organizations, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, chambers of commerce, local business organizations, organizations that provide legal assistance, and other organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate.</ins>
  - <del>“(i) </del><ins>“(E) </ins>In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall <del>facilitate engagement and coordination with such community organizations, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, chambers of commerce, local business organizations, organizations that </del>provide <del>legal assistance, and other organizations as </del><ins>adequate training for peer support counselors, including training carried out under </ins>the <del>Secretary considers appropriate to facilitate </del><ins>national program of training required by section 304(c) of </ins>the <del>transition </del><ins>Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act </ins>of <del>women described in subparagraph (A) into their communities.</del><ins>2010 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note).”</ins>
  - <del>“(ii) To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall coordinate facilitation of assistance under this paragraph with the program carried out under section 1144 of title 10.”</del>
- (b) Funding— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out paragraph (4) of section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), using funds otherwise made available to the Secretary. No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated by reason of such paragraph.
- (c) <ins>Report to Congress—</ins> <ins>Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the peer support counseling program under section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by this section. Such report shall include—</ins>
  - (1) <ins>the number of peer support counselors in the program;</ins>
  - (2) <ins>an assessment of the effectiveness of the program; and</ins>
  - (3) <ins>a description of the oversight of the program.</ins>