US Codex
Bill
Notes

H.R. 3722 — what changed

Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act

From Introduced in House to Engrossed in House. 1 section amended between Introduced in House and Engrossed in House.

Sec. 2 Addressing mental health issues in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense and the Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs

(a)
changed Pilot program required—Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense— The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing the module described in subsection (b) and services under subsection (c) as part of the pre-separation transition process for members of the Armed Forces as a means of reducing the incidence Section 1142(b) of suicide among veterans.title 10, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
added in paragraph (5), by inserting “(11),” before “and (16)”; and
(2)
added by striking paragraph (11) and inserting the following:

added “(11) Information concerning mental health, including—

added “(A) the availability of mental health services furnished by the Secretary concerned, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or a non-profit entity;

added “(B) the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, anxiety disorders, depression, chronic pain, sleep disorders, suicidal ideation, or other mental health conditions associated with service in the armed forces;

added “(C) the risk of suicide, including signs, symptoms, and risk factors (including adverse childhood experiences, depression, bipolar disorder, homelessness, unemployment, and relationship strain);

added “(D) the availability of treatment options and resources to address substance abuse, including alcohol, prescription drug, and opioid abuse;

added “(E) the potential effects of the loss of community and support systems experienced by a member separating from the armed forces;

added “(F) isolation from family, friends, or society; and

added “(G) the potential stressors associated with separation from the armed forces.”

(b)
added Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs— Section 6320(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(b)
removed Module—
(1)
removed In general— The module described in this subsection shall include the following:
(A)
removed An in-person meeting between a cohort of members of the Armed Forces participating in the pilot program and a social worker or nurse in which the social worker or nurse—
(i)
removed educates the cohort on resources for and specific potential risks confronting such members after discharge or release from the Armed Forces, including—
(I)
removed loss of community or a support system;
(II)
removed isolation from family, friends, or society;
(III)
removed identity crisis in the transition from military to civilian life;
(IV)
removed vulnerability viewed as a weakness;
(V)
removed need for empathy;
(VI)
removed self-medication and addiction;
(VII)
removed importance of sleep and exercise;
(VIII)
removed homelessness; and
(IX)
removed risk factors contributing to attempts of suicide and deaths by suicide;
(ii)
removed educates the cohort on—
(I)
removed the signs and symptoms of suicide risk and physical, psychological, or neurological issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, sleep disorders, substance use disorders, adverse childhood experiences, depression, bipolar disorder, and socio-ecological concerns, such as homelessness, unemployment, and relationship strain;
(II)
removed the potential risks for members of the Armed Forces from such issues after discharge or release from the Armed Forces; and
(III)
removed the resources and treatment options available to such members for such issues through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and non-profit organizations;
(iii)
removed educates the cohort about the resources available to victims of military sexual trauma through the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
(iv)
removed educates the cohort about the manner in which members might experience challenges during the transition from military to civilian life, and the resources available to them through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and other organizations.
(B)
removed The provision to each member of the cohort of contact information for a counseling or other appropriate facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the locality in which such member intends to reside after discharge or release.
(C)
removed The submittal by each member of the cohort to the Department of Veterans Affairs (including both the Veterans Health Administration and the Veterans Benefits Administration) of their medical records in connection with service in the Armed Forces, whether or not such members intend to file a claim with the Department for benefits with respect to any service-connected disability.
(1)
changed Composition of cohort— Each cohort participating in the module described in this subsection shall be comprised of not fewer than 50 individuals.by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) as subparagraphs (I) and (J), respectively; and
(2)
added by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new subparagraphs:

added “(G) assisting eligible veterans who elect to enroll in the system of patient enrollment under section 1705(a) of this title;

added “(H) educating veterans about mental health and counseling services available through the Veterans Health Administration;”

(c)
changed Services—Report— In carrying out Not later than one year after the pilot program, date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide jointly submit to each individual participating in the pilot program appropriate congressional committees a report on the following services:information and materials developed pursuant to the amendments made by this Act.
(d)
added Appropriate congressional committees defined— In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(1)
removed During the transition process and prior to discharge or release from the Armed Forces, a one-on-one meeting with a social worker or nurse of the Department of Veterans Affairs who will—
(A)
removed conduct an assessment of the individual regarding eligibility to receive health care or counseling services from the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
(B)
removed for those eligible, or likely to be eligible, to receive health care or counseling services from the Department of Veterans Affairs—
(i)
removed identify and provide contact information for an appropriate facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the locality in which such individual intends to reside after discharge or release;
(ii)
removed facilitate registration or enrollment in the system of patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, if applicable;
(iii)
removed educate the individual about care, benefits, and services available to the individual through the Veterans Health Administration; and
(iv)
removed coordinate health care based on the health care needs of the individual, if applicable, to include establishing an initial appointment, at the election of the individual, to occur not later than 90 days after the date of discharge or release of the member from the Armed Forces.
(2)
removed For each individual determined ineligible for care and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs during the transition process, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct an assessment of the individual to determine the needs of the individual and appropriate follow-up, which shall be identified and documented in the appropriate records of the Department of Defense.
(3)
removed During the appointment scheduled pursuant to paragraph (1)(B)(iv), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct an assessment of the individual to determine the needs of the individual and appropriate follow-up, which shall be identified and documented in the appropriate records of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(d)
removed Locations—
(1)
removed Module and meeting— The module under subsection (b) and the one-on-one meeting under subsection (c)(1) shall be carried out at not fewer than 10 locations of the Department of Defense that serve not fewer than 300 members of the Armed Forces annually that are jointly selected by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for purposes of the pilot program.
(2)
removed Assessment and appointment— The assessment under subsection (c)(2) and the appointment under subsection (c)(3) may occur at any location determined appropriate by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as the case may be.
(3)
removed Members served— The locations selected under paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable, be locations that, whether individually or in aggregate, serve all the Armed Forces and both the regular and reserve components of the Armed Forces.
(e)
removed Selection and commencement— The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly select the locations of the pilot program under subsection (d)(1) and commence carrying out activities under the pilot program by not later than September 30, 2024.
(f)
removed Duration— The duration of the pilot program shall be five years.
(g)
removed Reports—
(1)
removed In general— Not later than one year after the commencement of the pilot program, and annually thereafter during the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the activities under the pilot program.
(2)
removed Elements— Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A)
removed The demographic information of the members and former members of the Armed Forces who participated in the pilot program during the one-year period ending on the date of such report.
(B)
removed A description of the activities under the pilot program during such period.
(C)
removed An assessment of the benefits of the activities under the pilot program during such period to members and former members of the Armed Forces.
(D)
removed An assessment of whether the activities under the pilot program as of the date of such report have met the targeted outcomes of the pilot program among members and former members who participated in the pilot program within one year of discharge or release from the Armed Forces.
(E)
removed Such recommendations as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs jointly consider appropriate regarding the feasibility and advisability of expansion of the pilot program, extension of the pilot program, or both.
(h)
removed Appropriate committees of congress defined— In this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress means—
(1)
renumbered was (9)(3) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and
(2)
renumbered was (9)(4) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.