,i  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #aeji  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,m>* #aj1 #bjag,mr4   
,o',r\rke 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,jones1 &    
,mr4 ,knight7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2  
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on         
,vet]ans' ,affairs1 & 9 addition to !   
,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices1 = a p]iod 
to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 
9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su*         
provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! 
committee conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to direct
 ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se & ! ,secret>y (  
,vet]ans ,affairs to po/ at c]ta9       
locations ! av]age national wait times =
 vet]ans to receive an appo9tm5t = heal?
 c>e at m$ical facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r purposes4  
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,bett] ,in=m+ ,vet]ans' ,heal?c>e     
,decisions ,act4  #b4 ,po/+ ( av]age    
national wait times = heal? c>e         
appo9tm5ts & av]age process+ times (    
disability comp5sation claims & appeals 
7a7 ,f9d+s2 s5se ( ,congress  7#a7      

,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3  7,a7   
,accord+ to ! ,suicide ,data ,report1   
#bjab1 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans         
,affairs1 #bb vet]ans commit suicide e  
day4  7,b7 ,accord+ to e/imates ( !     
,dep>tm5t1 only approximately five ( ^! 
#bb vet]ans are enroll$ 9 ! m5tal heal? 
c>e sy/em ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  7#b7 ,s5se (  
,congress ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t--  
7,a7 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs mu/
 be m urg5t & effective 9 its approa* to
 address+ vet]an suicide & provid+      
vet]ans access to m5tal heal? c>e2 &    
7,b7 ,congress urges ! ,dep>tm5t to     
ensure t prev5t+ vet]an suicide &       
provid+ vet]ans access to m5tal heal?   
c>e is ! top re=m priority ( !          
,dep>tm5t4  7b7 ,provision ( in=mation  
,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date ( !    
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & on a mon?ly basis
 !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs %all--  7#a7 det]m9e1 ) respect
 to ! "o-ye> p]iod be=e ! date ( !      
det]m9ation-- 7,a7 ! av]age national    
wait times 79 days7 = a vet]an enroll$ 9

 ! heal? c>e sy/em e/abli%$ "u section  
#agje7;a7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code--  7i7 to receive an appo9tm5t =  
m5tal heal? c>e at a m$ical facility ( !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs2 &  7ii7 
to receive an appo9tm5t = prim>y heal?  
c>e at su* a facility2  7,b7 ! av]age   
claims process+ "t ( ! ,secret>y )      
respect to claims = disability          
comp5sation "u *apt] #aa ( su* title    
#ch2 &  7,c7 ! av]age appeals process+  
"t ( ! ,secret>y to decide an appeal to 
su* a claim = disability comp5sation2 & 
7#b7 provide ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se ) su*
 in=mation det]m9$ "u p>agraph 7#a74    
7c7 ,po/+ ( in=mation ,! ,secret>y (    
,def5se %all place 9 a conspicu\s       
location at ea* c>e] c\nselor or c>e]   
assi/ance advisor (fice a sign t--  7#a7
 is n less ?an #ah in*es tall by #bd    
in*es wide2 &  7#b7 is cont9u\sly updat$
 to display ! mo/ curr5t in=mation      
receiv$ by ! ,secret>y pursuant to      
subsection 7b77#b74  7d7 ,def9itions ,9 
?is section3 7#a7 ,! t]m appeals        

process+ "t means1 ) respect to a vet]an
 fil+ an appeal to a decision ( !       
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs d5y+ a    
claim = disability comp5sation "u *apt] 
#aa ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 ! 
p]iod beg9n+ on ! date on :i* ! claimant
 files a notice ( disagreem5t & end+ on 
! date on :i* ! claimant is in=m$ ( !   
decision to su* notice ( disagreem5t4   
7#b7 ,! t]m claims process+ "t means1 ) 
respect to a vet]an fil+ a claim =      
disability comp5sation "u *apt] #aa (   
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 ! p]iod 
beg9n+ on ! date on :i* ! claim is      
orig9ally receiv$ by ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs & end+ on ! date on   
:i* ! ,secret>y in=ms ! claimant ( !    
decision4  7#c7 ,! t]m wait "t means1 ) 
respect to a vet]an receiv+ an appo9tm5t
 = heal? c>e at a m$ical facility ( !   
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 ! p]iod  
beg9n+ on ! date on :i* ! vet]an fir/   
reque/s su* appo9tm5t & end+ on ! date  
on :i* su* appo9tm5t occurs4