1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Assistance Helpline Act”.
Veterans Assistance Helpline Act
A BILL
To require the Federal Communications Commission, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to designate a simple, easy-to-remember dialing code for veterans and other eligible individuals to use to obtain information about the benefits and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
2. Telephone helpline for assistance for veterans and other eligible individuals
Definitions— In this section—
the term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission;
the term covered dialing code means a simple, easy-to-remember, 3-digit dialing code;
the term covered individual means—
a veteran;
an individual acting on behalf of a veteran; or
an individual, other than a veteran, who is eligible to receive a benefit or service under a law administered by the Secretary;
the term Secretary means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
the term veteran has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
Establishment of helpline—
In general— The Commission, in coordination with the Secretary, and after conducting the study required under subsection (c), shall designate a covered dialing code for the purposes of a toll-free telephone helpline that a covered individual may use to obtain information about, or through which a covered individual may be directed to, any service or benefit provided under a law administered by the Secretary, including any service provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs in the area in which the covered individual is located.
Contract for direction of calls— The Commission, in coordination with the Secretary, may enter into a contract with an outside entity to direct calls made to the telephone helpline established under paragraph (1) to the appropriate person regarding a service or benefit described in that paragraph.
Live individual— The Commission, in coordination with the Secretary, shall ensure that a covered individual using the telephone helpline established under paragraph (1) speaks with a live individual rather than a recording.
Study required—
In general— The Commission, in coordination with the Secretary, shall conduct a study to determine which covered dialing code is most appropriate for the designation required under subsection (b)(1).
Requirements— In conducting the study required under paragraph (1), the Commission, in coordination with the Secretary, shall—
consider all covered dialing codes, including the codes that are used for other purposes;
give preference to any code with which covered individuals are likely to be familiar; and
consult with the North American Numbering Council.
Deadline for completion— The Commission, in coordination with the Secretary, shall complete the study required under paragraph (1) not later than the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
No additional funds authorized— No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection and this subsection shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.