,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #bgdj  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #ca1 #bjad ,ms4  
,heitkamp introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0
 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on 
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
require ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
to e/abli% a volunt>y national directory
 ( vet]ans to support outrea* to        
vet]ans1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort   
title  ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !        
,connect ) ,vet]ans ,act ( #bjad4  #b4  
,volunt>y national directory ( vet]ans  
7a7 ,program requir$  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!  
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 9        
coord9ation ) ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se1    
%all e/abli% a program to facilitate    
outrea* to vet]ans by cov]$ entities4   
7#b7 ,cov]$ entities ,= purposes ( ?is  
section1 a cov]$ entity is any ( !      
foll[+3 7,a7 ,! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs4  7,b7 ,! ag5cy or dep>tm5t ( a
 ,/ate t is ! prim>y ag5cy or dep>tm5t (
 ! ,/ate = ! adm9i/ration ( b5efits &   
s]vices = vet]ans 9 ! ,/ate4  7,c7 ,a   

political subdivision ( a ,/ate4  7,d7  
,an ,indian tribe 7z def9$ 9 section #d 
( ! ,indian ,self-,det]m9ation &        
,education ,assi/ance ,act 7#be         
,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b774  7#c7 ,national     
directory ,to c>ry out ! program requir$
 by p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,secret>y %all--   
7,a7 e/abli% a national directory (     
vet]ans z describ$ 9 subsection 7b72 &  
7,b7 %>e in=mation 9 ! directory 9      
accordance ) subsection 7c74  7b7       
,national directory  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!   
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
e/abli% ! national directory requir$ by 
subsection 7a77#c7 us+ in=mation receiv$
 f ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se "u subsection  
7d77#d74  7#b7 ,updates ,! ,secret>y (  
,vet]ans ,affairs %all ensure t !       
national directory includes a me*anism  
by :i* a p>ticipat+ individual c update 
! in=mation 9 ! national directory t    
p]ta9s to ! p>ticipat+ individual4  7#c7
 ,dis5rollm5t ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% 
a me*anism by :i* a p>ticipat+          
individual c indicate to ! ,secret>y t !

 individual w\ld no long] l to receive  
in=mation f p>ticipat+ entities "u !    
program4  7#d7 ,re5rollm5t ,! ,secret>y 
%all e/abli% a me*anism = ! inclusion ( 
in=mation 9 ! national directory (      
individuals :o 7 previ\sly p>ticipat+   
individuals b :o _h made an indication  
"u p>agraph 7#c7 & subsequ5tly indicate 
t !y w\ld l to receive in=mation f      
p>ticipat+ entities "u ! program4  7#e7 
,privacy & security ,! ,secret>y %all   
take su* actions z ! ,secret>y consid]s 
appropriate to protect-- 7,a7 ! privacy 
( individuals p>ticipat+ 9 ! program2 & 
7,b7 ! security ( ! in=mation /or$ 9 !  
national directory4  7#f7 e,benefits ,! 
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs may use ! 
sy/em & ar*itecture ( ! e,benefits      
,int]net website ( ! ,dep>tm5t (        
,vet]ans ,affairs to support & op]ate ! 
national directory z ! ,secret>y        
consid]s appropriate4  7c7 ,outrea*     
7#a7 ,%>+ ( directory in=mation  7,a7 ,9
 g5]al ,except z provid$ 9 p>agraph     
7#b71 9 ord] to connect p>ticipat+      

individuals ) in=mation ab\t ! programs 
!y c\ld be eligible = or s]vices1       
support1 & in=mation !y may be int]e/$ 9
 receiv+1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs may %>e1 "u ! program e/abli%$ 
"u subsection 7a77#a71 in=mation 9 !    
national directory conc]n+ su*          
individuals ) entities applicable to    
p>ticipat+ individuals4  7,b7 ,entities 
applicable to p>ticipat+ individuals ,= 
purposes ( ?is subsection1 an entity t  
is applicable to a p>ticipat+ individual
 is a cov]$ entity f :om a p>ticipat+   
individual has express$ int]e/ 9 receiv+
 in=mation "u ! program4  7,c7 ,updat$  
in=mation ,9 a case 9 :i* a p>ticipat+  
individual updates ! in=mation p]ta9+ to
 ! p>ticipat+ individual "u subsection  
7b77#b71 ! ,secret>y %all transmit su*  
in=mation to ea* entity applicable to ! 
p>ticipat+ individual4  7,d7            
,notification ( dis5rollm5t ,9 a case 9 
:i* a p>ticipat+ individual indicates to
 ! ,secret>y "u subsection 7b77#c7 t !  
individual w\ld no long] l to receive   

in=mation f p>ticipat+ entities "u !    
program1 ! ,secret>y %all in=m ea*      
entity applicable to ! p>ticipat+       
individual t ! individual w\ld no long] 
l to receive in=mation f ! entity "u !  
program4  7#b7 ,limitations  7,a7       
,limitations on ! ,secret>y  7i7        
,in=mation %>$ ,"u ! program1 !         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs may only  
%>e f ! national directory ! foll[+3    
7,i7 ,! "n ( a p>ticipat+ individual4   
7,,ii7 ,! e-mail address ( a p>ticipat+ 
individual4  7,,iii7 ,! po/al address ( 
a p>ticipat+ individual4  7,,iv7 ,!     
phone numb] ( a p>ticipat+ individual4  
7ii7 ,prohibition on sale ( in=mation ,!
 ,secret>y may n sell any in=mation     
collect$ "u ?is section4  7iii7         
,entities ,! ,secret>y may n %>e any    
in=mation collect$ "u ! program ) any   
entity t is n a p>ticipat+ entity4  7,b7
 ,limitations on p>ticipat+ entities    
7i7 ,%>+ ) ?ird-p>ty & =-pr(it entities 
,z a condition ( p>ticipation 9 !       
program1 a p>ticipat+ entity %all agree 

n to %>e any in=mation ! p>ticipat+     
entity receives "u ! program ) any      
?ird-p>ty or =-pr(it entities4  7ii7    
,pur*ases ( products or s]vices ,z a    
condition ( p>ticipation 9 ! program1 a 
p>ticipat+ entity %all agree n to       
include 9 any in=mation s5t by !        
p>ticipat+ entity to a p>ticipat+       
individual a requirem5t t ! p>ticipat+  
individual or ! family ( ! p>ticipat+   
individual pur*ase a product or s]vice4 
7iii7 ,political communication ,z a     
condition ( p>ticipation 9 ! program1 a 
p>ticipat+ entity %all agree n to use   
any in=mation receiv$ "u ! program = any
 political communication4  7#c7         
,dis5rollm5t by p>ticipat+ entities ,!  
,secret>y %all e/abli% a me*anism by :i*
 a p>ticipat+ entity may indicate to !  
,secret>y t ! p>ticipat+ entity w\ld no 
long] l to receive in=mation ab\t       
p>ticipat+ individuals f ! national     
directory4  7#d7 ,s5se ( ,congress  7,a7
 ,consolidation ( reque/s ,x is ! s5se (
 ,congress t cov]$ entities describ$ 9  

subsection 7a77#b77;,c7 :o are locat$ 9 
! same region %\ld "w toge!r 9 a mann]  
su* t only "o ( !m reque/s receipt (    
in=mation "u ! program4  7,b7           
,collaboration ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress 
t cov]$ entities describ$ 9 subsection  
7a77#b77;,c7 %\ld "w ) ?ird p>ties1 su* 
z vet]ans s]vice organizations1 milit>y 
community gr\ps1 & o!r entities ) an    
int]e/ 9 assi/+ vet]ans1 to develop !   
in=mation ! cov]$ entities s5d to       
p>ticipat+ individuals "u ! program4    
7#e7 ,publicity ,! ,secret>y %all       
develop a plan to publicize ! program & 
in=m cov]$ entities ( ! b5efits (       
p>ticipat+ 9 ! program4  7d7 ,collection
 ( contact in=mation  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,to 
ea* memb] ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces sep>at+ f     
s]vice 9 ! ,arm$ ,=ces1 ! ,secret>y (   
,def5se %all provide a =m = ! collection
 ( in=mation to be includ$ 9 ! national 
directory e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a74   
7#b7 ,=m  7,a7 ,developm5t ,! ,secret>y 
( ,def5se %all1 9 consultation ) !      
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 develop !

 =m provid$ "u p>agraph 7#a74  7,b7     
,elem5ts ,! =m develop$ "u subp>agraph  
7,a7 %all all[ a memb] ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces  
:o is 9 ! process ( sep>at+ f s]vice 9 !
 ,arm$ ,=ces to indicate ! foll[+3 7i7  
,:]e ! memb] int5ds to reside aft]      
sep>ation4  7ii7 ,h[ ! individual c be/ 
be contact$1 su* z a telephone numb]1 an
 e-mail address1 or a po/al address4    
7iii7 ,= :i* types ( b5efits & s]vices !
 memb] w\ld l to receive communication &
 outrea*1 su* z heal? c>e1 education1   
employm5t1 & h\s+4  7iv7 ,f :i* ( !     
foll[+ ! memb] w\ld l to receive !      
communication & outrea* specifi$ "u     
clause 7iii73 7,i7 ,! ,dep>tm5t (       
,vet]ans ,affairs4  7,,ii7 ,! ag5cy or  
dep>tm5t ( ! ,/ate 9 :i* ! memb] int5ds 
to reside aft] sep>ation t is ! prim>y  
ag5cy or dep>tm5t ( ! ,/ate = !         
adm9i/ration ( b5efits & s]vices =      
vet]ans 9 ! ,/ate4  7,,iii7 ,a political
 subdivision ( a ,/ate4  7,c7 ,notice ,!
 =m develop$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 %all   
include notice ( ! foll[+3 7i7          

,in=mation provid$ to ag5cies &         
dep>tm5ts describ$ 9 subp>agraph        
7,b77iv77,,iii7 w only be provid$ z     
au?oriz$ & ^u reque/ by su* ag5cies &   
dep>tm5ts4  7ii7 ,political subdivisions
 ( ,/ates t receive in=mation "u !      
program e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a7 may--
 7,i7 %>e su* in=mation ) su* nonpr(it  
organizations z ! political subdivisions
 consid] appropriate2 &  7,,ii7 "w ) su*
 organizations to provide ! vet]ans )   
relevant in=mation ab\t b5efits &       
s]vices (f]$ by su* organizations4      
7iii7 ,in=mation provid$ on ! =m        
develop$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 w nev] be  
sold1 provid$ to a =-pr(it entity1 or   
us$ to s5d any sort ( political         
communication4  7,d7 ,mann] ,! ,secret>y
 ( ,def5se %all ensure t ! =m provid$ "u
 p>agraph 7#a7 is n prim>ily electronic 
9 nature4  7#c7 ,volunt>y p>ticipation  
,! ,secret>y ( ,def5se %all ensure t    
completion ( ! =m provid$ "u p>agraph   
7#a7 is volunt>y & submittal ( su* =m to
 ! ,secret>y by a memb] ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces 

%all be consid]$ an indication to !     
,secret>y t ! memb] w\ld l to receive   
in=mation f p>ticipat+ entities "u !    
program4  7#d7 ,transmittal ( in=mation 
to ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,n lat]
 ?an #cj days aft] ! date on :i* a memb]
 ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces :o submitt$ in=mation  
to ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se "u ?is         
subsection sep>ates f s]vice 9 ! ,arm$  
,=ces1 ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se %all       
transmit su* in=mation to ! ,secret>y ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs4  7#e7 ,privacy &     
security ,! ,secret>y ( ,def5se %all    
take su* actions z ! ,secret>y consid]s 
appropriate to protect-- 7,a7 ! privacy 
( individuals :o submit in=mation "u ?is
 subsection2 &  7,b7 ! security ( su*   
in=mation-- 7i7 :ile x is 9 ! possession
 ( ! ,secret>y2 &  7ii7 :ile x is 9     
transit to ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs4  7#f7 ,integration )          
,transition ,assi/ance ,program ,!      
,secret>y ( ,def5se & ! ,secret>y (     
,labor %all jo9tly take su* actions z ! 
secret>ies consid] appropriate to       

integrate ! collection ( in=mation "u   
?is subsection into ! ,transition       
,assi/ance ,program4  7e7 ,report  7#a7 
,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !   
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & !       
,secret>y ( ,def5se %all jo9tly submit  
to ! appropriate committees ( ,congress 
a report on ! program e/abli%$ "u       
subsection 7a77#a74  7#b7 ,cont5ts ,!   
report submitt$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all   
include an exam9ation & assessm5t ( !   
foll[+3 7,a7 ,! signup process & !      
effectiv5ess ( ! =ms develop$ & provid$ 
"u subsection 7d74  7,b7 ,! ways 9 :i*  
contact in=mation is transf]r$ f !      
,secret>y ( ,def5se to ! ,secret>y (    
,vet]ans ,affairs "u ! program & ! plans
 ( ! secret>ies to ov]come *all5ges     
enc\nt]$ by ! secret>ies 9 transf]r+ su*
 in=mation4  7,c7 ,! numb] ( cov]$      
entities describ$ 9 subsection          
7a77#b77;,c7 p>ticipat+ 9 ! program &   
any *all5ges !y report 9 receiv+ !      
contact in=mation f ! ,secret>y (       

,vet]ans ,affairs "u ! program4  7,d7 ,!
 effectiv5ess ( ef=ts ( ! ,secret>y (   
,vet]ans ,affairs & ! ,secret>y (       
,def5se to protect ! p]sonal in=mation (
 p>ticipat+ individuals4  7,e7 ,!       
effectiv5ess ( ef=ts ( cov]$ entities   
describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#b77;,c7 to   
protect ! p]sonal in=mation ( p>ticipat+
 individuals4  7,f7 ,:e!r additional    
limitations on ! use ( in=mation        
collect$ "u ! program are necess>y to   
protect p>ticipat+ individuals f unwant$
 contact1 or contact t is inconsi/5t ) !
 program4  7,g7 ,:e!r p>ticipat+        
individuals are b5efitt+ by p>ticipat+ 9
 ! program & :e!r *ang+ ! program w\ld  
improve su* b5efits4  7,h7 ,! ov]all    
p>ticipation 9 ! program1 utilization ( 
! program1 & h[ su* p>ticipation &      
utilization c\ld be improv$4  7,i7 ,su* 
o!r matt]s z ! secret>ies consid]       
appropriate4  7#c7 ,appropriate         
committees ( ,congress def9$ ,9 ?is     
subsection1 ! t]m appropriate committees
 ( ,congress means ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,!    

,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs1 !     
,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices1 & !       
,subcommittee on ,milit>y ,con/ruction1 
,vet]ans ,affairs1 & ,relat$ ,ag5cies ( 
! ,committee on ,appropriations ( !     
,s5ate4  7,b7 ,! ,committee on ,vet]ans'
 ,affairs1 ! ,committee on ,arm$        
,s]vices1 & ! ,subcommittee on ,milit>y 
,con/ruction1 ,vet]ans ,affairs &       
,relat$ ,ag5cies ( ! ,committee on      
,appropriations ( ! ,h\se (             
,repres5tatives4  7f7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is
 section3 7#a7 ,p>ticipat+ entity ,! t]m
 p>ticipat+ entity means a cov]$ entity 
t has indicat$ to ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs t ! cov]$ entity w\ld l to    
receive in=mation ab\t p>ticipat+       
individuals f ! national directory & has
 made no subsequ5t indication t ! cov]$ 
entity w\ld l to /op receiv+ su*        
in=mation4  7#b7 ,p>ticipat+ individual 
,! t]m p>ticipat+ individual means an   
individual ) respect to :om in=mation is
 /or$ 9 ! national directory & :o has   
indicat$ to ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans      

,affairs or ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se t !   
individual w\ld l to receive in=mation f
 p>ticipat+ entities "u ! program & has 
made no subsequ5t indication t !        
individual w\ld l to /op receiv+ su*    
in=mation4