,,ii  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,h4 ,r4 #hbdg  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of 
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,september #bd1
 #bjbj,received  ,,an ,,act  ,to make   
certain improvements relating to the    
transition of individuals to services   
from the ,department of ,veterans       
,affairs1 suicide prevention for        
veterans1 and care and services for     
women veterans1 and for other purposes4 
#a4 ,short title2 table of contents  7a7
 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as
 the ,veterans ,comprehensive           
,prevention1 ,access to ,care1 and      
,treatment ,act of #bjbj or the         
,veterans ,,compact ,act of #bjbj4  7b7 
,table of contents ,the table of        
contents for this ,act is as follows3   
,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of        
contents4,title ,i--,improvement of     
transition of individuals to services   
from ,department of ,veterans           
,affairs,sec4 #aja4 ,pilot program on   
information sharing between ,department 
of ,veterans ,affairs and designated    

relatives and friends of veterans       
regarding assistance and benefits       
available to the veterans4,sec4 #ajb4   
,annual report on ,solid ,start program 
of ,department of ,veterans             
,affairs4,title ,,ii--,suicide          
,prevention,sec4 #bja4 ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs provision of emergent
 suicide care4,sec4 #bjb4 ,education    
program for family members and          
caregivers of veterans with mental      
health disorders4,sec4 #bjc4            
,interagency ,task ,force on ,outdoor   
,recreation for ,veterans4,sec4 #bjd4   
,contact of certain veterans to         
encourage receipt of comprehensive      
medical examinations4,sec4 #bje4 ,police
 crisis intervention training of        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4,title
 ,,iii--,improvement of care and        
services for women veterans,sec4 #cja4  
,gap analysis of ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs programs that provide
 assistance to women veterans who are   
homeless4,sec4 #cjb4 ,report on         

locations where women veterans are using
 health care from ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs4  ,i ,improvement of 
transition of individuals to services   
from ,department of ,veterans ,affairs  
#aja4 ,pilot program on information     
sharing between ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs and designated relatives and  
friends of veterans regarding assistance
 and benefits available to the veterans 
7a7 ,pilot program required  7#a7 ,in   
general ,not later than one year after  
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs    
shall commence carrying out a pilot     
program-- 7,a7 to encourage members of  
the ,armed ,forces who are transitioning
 from service in the ,armed ,forces to  
civilian life1 before separating from   
such service1 to designate up to #aj    
persons to whom information regarding   
the assistance and benefits available to
 the veterans under laws administered by
 the ,secretary shall be disseminated   
using the contact information obtained  

under paragraph 7#g72 and  7,b7 provides
 such persons1 within #cj days after the
 date on which such persons are         
designated under subparagraph 7,a71 the 
option to elect to receive such         
information4  7#b7 ,duration ,the       
,secretary shall carry out the pilot    
program during a period beginning on the
 date of the commencement of the pilot  
program that is not less than two years4
  7#c7 ,dissemination ,the ,secretary   
shall disseminate information described 
in paragraph 7#a77;,a7 under the pilot  
program no less than quarterly4  7#d7   
,types of information ,the types of     
information to be disseminated under the
 pilot program to persons who elect to  
receive such information shall include  
information regarding the following3    
7,a7 ,services and benefits offered to  
veterans and their family members by the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4     
7,b7 ,challenges and stresses that might
 accompany transitioning from service in
 the ,armed ,forces to civilian life4   

7,c7 ,services available to veterans and
 their family members to cope with the  
experiences and challenges of service in
 the ,armed ,forces and transition from 
such service to civilian life4  7,d7    
,services available through community   
partner organizations to support        
veterans and their family members4  7,e7
 ,services available through ,federal1  
,state1 and local government agencies to
 support veterans and their family      
members4  7,f7 ,the environmental health
 registry program1 health and wellness  
programs1 and resources for preventing  
and managing diseases and illnesses4    
7,g7 ,a toll-free telephone number      
through which such persons who elect to 
receive information under the pilot     
program may request information         
regarding the program4  7,h7 ,such other
 matters as the ,secretary1 in          
consultation with members of the ,armed 
,forces and such persons who elect to   
receive information under the pilot     
program1 determines to be appropriate4  

7#e7 ,privacy of information ,in        
carrying out the pilot program1 the     
,secretary may not disseminate          
information under paragraph 7#d7 in     
violation of laws and regulations       
pertaining to the privacy of members of 
the ,armed ,forces1 including           
requirements pursuant to-- 7,a7 section 
#eeb;a of title #e1 ,united ,states     
,code2 and  7,b7 the ,health ,insurance 
,portability and ,accountability ,act of
 #aiif 7,public ,law #ajd-aia74  7#f7   
,notice and modifications ,in carrying  
out the pilot program1 the ,secretary   
shall1 with respect to a veteran-- 7,a7 
ensure that such veteran is notified of 
the ability to modify designations made 
by such veteran under paragraph         
7#a77;,a72 and  7,b7 upon the request of
 a veteran1 authorize such veteran to   
modify such designations at any time4   
7#g7 ,contact information ,in making a  
designation under the pilot program1 a  
veteran shall provide necessary contact 
information1 specifically including an  

email address1 to facilitate the        
dissemination of information regarding  
the assistance and benefits available to
 the veteran under laws administered by 
the ,secretary4  7#h7 ,opt-in and       
opt-out of pilot program  7,a7 ,opt-in  
by members ,a veteran may participate in
 the pilot program only if the veteran  
voluntarily elects to participate in the
 program4 ,a veteran seeking to make    
such an election shall make such        
election in a manner1 and by including  
such information1 as the ,secretary     
shall specify for purposes of the pilot 
program4  7,b7 ,opt-in by designated    
recipients ,a person designated pursuant
 to paragraph 7#a77;,a7 may receive     
information under the pilot program only
 if the person makes the election       
described in paragraph 7#a77;,b74  7,c7 
,opt-out ,in carrying out the pilot     
program1 the ,secretary shall1 with     
respect to a person who has elected to  
receive information under such pilot    
program1 cease disseminating such       

information to that person upon request 
of such person4  7b7 ,survey and report 
on pilot program  7#a7 ,survey  7,a7 ,in
 general ,not later than one year after 
the date of the commencement of the     
pilot program and not less frequently   
than once each year thereafter for the  
duration of the pilot program1 the      
,secretary shall administer a survey to 
persons who ever elected to receive     
information under the pilot program for 
the purpose of receiving feedback       
regarding the quality of information    
disseminated under this section4  7,b7  
,elements ,each survey conducted under  
subparagraph 7,a7 shall include         
solicitation of the following3 7i7      
,feedback on the following3 7,i7 ,the   
nature of information disseminated under
 the pilot program4  7,,ii7             
,satisfaction with the pilot program4   
7,,iii7 ,the utility of the pilot       
program4  7,,iv7 ,overall pilot program 
successes and challenges4  7ii7         
,recommendations for improving the pilot

 program4  7iii7 ,reasons for opting in 
or out of the pilot program4  7iv7 ,such
 other feedback or matters as the       
,secretary considers appropriate4  7#b7 
,report  7,a7 ,in general ,not later    
than three years after the date on which
 the pilot program commences1 the       
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,senate a final report on the pilot     
program4  7,b7 ,contents ,the report    
submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall 
include the following3 7i7 ,the results 
of the survey administered under        
paragraph 7#a74  7ii7 ,the number of    
participants enrolled in the pilot      
program who are veterans4  7iii7 ,the   
number of persons designated under      
subsection 7a77#a77;,a74  7iv7 ,the     
number of such persons who opted in or  
out of the pilot program under          
subsection 7a77#h74  7v7 ,the average   
period such persons remained in the     
pilot program4  7vi7 ,an assessment of  

the feasibility and advisability of     
making the pilot program permanent4     
7vii7 ,identification of legislative or 
administrative action that may be       
necessary if the pilot program is made  
permanent4  7viii7 ,a plan to expand the
 pilot program if the pilot program is  
made permanent4  7ix7 ,if the ,secretary
 finds under clause 7vi7 that making the
 pilot program permanent is not feasible
 or advisable1 a justification for such 
finding4  #ajb4 ,annual report on ,solid
 ,start program of ,department of       
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,reports        
required ,not later than #ahj days after
 the date of the enactment of this ,act1
 and annually thereafter for a period of
 five years1 the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs shall submit to the           
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and ,house of               
,representatives a report on the ,solid 
,start program of the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs4  7b7 ,elements ,each
 report under subsection 7a7 shall      

include the following3 7#a7 ,with       
respect to each veteran called or       
emailed under the ,solid ,start program3
 7,a7 ,the ,armed ,force in which the   
veteran served4  7,b7 ,age4  7,c7       
,gender4  7,d7 ,whether the veteran     
responded to the call or email4  7,e7   
,whether the call or email resulted in a
 call to the ,veterans ,crisis ,line    
established pursuant to section         
#agbj;,f7h7 of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code4  7,f7 ,whether the call  
or email resulted in a referral to-- 7i7
 compensation and pension determination2
  7ii7 enrollment in the patient        
enrollment system of the ,department2 or
  7iii7 any other program or benefit    
under the laws administered by the      
,secretary4  7#b7 ,any change to the    
,solid ,start program implemented by the
 ,secretary since the date of the       
previous such report4  7c7 ,prohibition 
on personally identifiable information  
,no report under subsection 7a7 may     
contain any personally identifiable     

information regarding a veteran4  ,,ii  
,suicide ,prevention  #bja4 ,department 
of ,veterans ,affairs provision of      
emergent suicide care  7a7 ,in general  
,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #ag of title
 #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended 
by adding at the end the following new  
section3  #agbj;,j4 ,emergent suicide   
care  7a7 ,emergent suicide care        
,pursuant to this section1 the          
,secretary shall-- 7#a7 furnish emergent
 suicide care to an eligible individual 
at a medical facility of the            
,department2  7#b7 pay for emergent     
suicide care provided to an eligible    
individual at a non-,department         
facility2 and  7#c7 reimburse an        
eligible individual for emergent suicide
 care provided to the eligible          
individual at a non-,department         
facility4  7b7 ,eligibility ,an         
individual is eligible for emergent     
suicide care under subsection 7a7 if the
 individual is in an acute suicidal     
crisis and is either of the following3  

7#a7 ,a veteran 7as defined in section  
#aja74  7#b7 ,an individual described in
 section #agbj;,i7b7 of this title4  7c7
 ,period of care  7#a7 ,emergent suicide
 care provided under subsection 7a7     
shall be furnished to an eligible       
individual-- 7,a7 through inpatient or  
crisis residential care1 for a period   
not to exceed #cj days2 or  7,b7 if care
 under subparagraph 7,a7 is unavailable1
 or if such care is not clinically      
appropriate1 as outpatient care for a   
period not to exceed #ij days4  7#b7    
,if1 upon the expiration of a period    
under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary    
determines that the eligible individual 
remains in an acute suicidal crisis1 the
 ,secretary may extend such period as   
the ,secretary determines appropriate4  
7d7 ,notification ,an eligible          
individual who receives emergent suicide
 care under subsection 7a7 at a         
non-,department facility 7or a person   
acting on behalf of the individual7     
shall notify the ,secretary of such care

 within seven days of admission to such 
facility4  7e7 ,outreach ,during any    
period when an eligible individual is   
receiving emergent suicide care under   
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall--  
7#a7 ensure that-- 7,a7 in the case of  
an eligible individual whom the         
,veterans ,crisis ,line recommends to   
seek emergent suicide care at a medical 
facility of the ,department1 the        
,veterans ,crisis ,line notifies the    
,suicide ,prevention ,coordinator of    
such medical facility2  7,b7 in the case
 of an eligible individual who presents 
at a medical facility of the ,department
 in an acute suicidal crisis without a  
recommendation by the ,veterans ,crisis 
,line1 the ,secretary notifies the      
,suicide ,prevention ,coordinator2  7,c7
 in the case of an eligible individual  
whom the ,veterans ,crisis ,line        
recommends to seek treatment at a       
non-,department facility1 the ,veterans 
,crisis ,line notifies the ,suicide     
,prevention ,coordinator and the ,office

 of ,community ,care at the medical     
facility of the ,department located     
nearest to the eligible individual2 and 
7,d7 in the case of an eligible         
individual who presents at a            
non-,department facility in an acute    
suicidal crisis without a recommendation
 by the ,veterans ,crisis ,line and for 
whom the ,secretary receives a          
notification under subsection 7d71 the  
,secretary notifies the ,suicide        
,prevention ,coordinator and the ,office
 of ,community ,care at the medical     
facility of the ,department located     
nearest to the eligible individual2     
7#b7 determine the eligibility of the   
eligible individual for other programs  
and benefits under the laws administered
 by the ,secretary 7or shall make such  
determination as soon as practicable    
following the period of such emergent   
suicide care72 and  7#c7 make referrals 
for care following the period of such   
emergent suicide care1 as the ,secretary
 determines appropriate4  7f7           

,prohibition on charge  7#a7 ,if the    
,secretary provides emergent suicide    
care to an eligible individual under    
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary-- 7,a7   
may not charge the eligible individual  
for any cost of such emergent suicide   
care2 and  7,b7 shall pay for any costs 
of emergency transportation to a        
facility for such emergent suicide care 
7as such costs are determined pursuant  
to section #agbe of this title1 to the  
extent practicable74  7#b7 7,a7 ,in     
addition to the requirements of         
paragraph 7#a71 if the ,secretary pays  
for emergent suicide care provided under
 subsection 7a7 to an eligible          
individual at a non-,department         
facility1 the ,secretary shall reimburse
 the facility for the reasonable value  
of such emergent suicide care4  7,b7 7i7
 ,in carrying out subparagraph 7,a71 the
 ,secretary may determine the amount to 
reimburse a non-,department facility in 
a similar manner to the manner in which 
the ,secretary determines reimbursement 

amounts for that non-,department        
facility for medical care and services  
provided under another provision of this
 chapter4  7ii7 ,the requirements of    
section #agbe7;c77#c7 of this title     
shall apply with respect to payments    
made under subparagraph 7,a7 of this    
paragraph4  7#c7 ,in the case of an     
eligible individual who receives        
emergent suicide care under this section
 and who is entitled to emergent suicide
 care 7or payment for emergent suicide  
care7 under a health-plan contract1 the 
,secretary may recover the costs of such
 emergent suicide care provided under   
this section1 other than for such care  
for a service-connected disability4     
7#d7 ,in carrying out subsection 7d71   
the ,secretary may not charge an        
eligible individual for any cost of     
emergent suicide care provided under    
subsection 7a7 solely by reason of the  
,secretary not having been notified of  
such care pursuant to such subsection4  
7g7 ,annual report ,not less than once  

each year1 the ,secretary shall submit  
to the ,committees on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,senate and the ,house  
of ,representatives a report on emergent
 suicide care provided under subsection 
7a74 ,each such report shall include1   
for the year covered by the report--    
7#a7 the number of eligible individuals 
who received emergent suicide care under
 subsection 7a72  7#b7 demographic      
information regarding eligible          
individuals described in paragraph 7#a72
  7#c7 the types of care furnished or   
paid for this section2 and  7#d7 the    
total cost of providing care under      
subsection 7a74  7h7 ,definitions ,in   
this section3 7#a7 ,the term acute      
suicidal crisis means that an individual
 was determined to be at imminent risk  
of self-harm by a trained crisis        
responder or health care provider4  7#b7
 ,the term crisis residential care means
 crisis stabilization care provided--   
7,a7 in a residential setting2 and  7,b7
 in a facility other than a hospital4   

7#c7 ,the term crisis stabilization care
 includes1 with respect to an individual
 in acute suicidal crisis1 care that    
ensures1 to the extent practicable1     
immediate safety and reduces-- 7,a7 the 
severity of distress2  7,b7 the need for
 urgent care2 or  7,c7 the likelihood   
that the distress under subparagraph    
7,a7 or need under subparagraph 7,b7    
will increase during the transfer of    
that individual from a facility at which
 the individual has received care for   
that acute suicidal crisis4  7#d7 ,the  
term emergent suicide care means crisis 
stabilization care provided to an       
eligible individual-- 7,a7 pursuant to a
 recommendation of the eligible         
individual from the ,veterans ,crisis   
,line2 or  7,b7 who presents at a       
medical facility in an acute suicidal   
crisis4  7#e7 ,the term health-plan     
contract has the meaning given such term
 in section #agbe of this title4  7#f7  
,the term ,veterans ,crisis ,line means 
the hotline under section #agbj;,f7h7 of

 this title4  4  7b7 ,clerical amendment
 ,the table of sections at the beginning
 of such chapter is amended by inserting
 after the item relation to section     
#agbj;,i the following new item3        
#agbj;,j4 ,emergent suicide care4  4    
7c7 ,effective date ,the ,secretary     
shall furnish or pay for emergent       
suicide care under section #agbj;,j of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as    
added by subsection 7a71 beginning on   
the date that is #bgj days after the    
date of the enactment of this ,act4     
#bjb4 ,education program for family     
members and caregivers of veterans with 
mental health disorders  7a7            
,establishment ,not later than #bgj days
 after the date of the enactment of this
 ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans      
,affairs shall establish an education   
program 7in this section referred to as 
the education program7 for the education
 and training of caregivers and family  
members of eligible veterans with mental
 health disorders4  7b7 ,education      

program  7#a7 ,in general ,under the    
education program1 the ,secretary shall 
provide a course of education to        
caregivers and family members of        
eligible veterans on matters relating to
 coping with mental health disorders in 
veterans4  7#b7 ,duration ,the          
,secretary shall carry out the education
 program during the four-year period    
beginning on the date of the            
commencement of the education program4  
7#c7 ,scope  7,a7 ,caregivers ,the      
,secretary1 with respect to the         
component of the education program that 
relates to the education and training of
 caregivers1 shall-- 7i7 include such   
component in the training provided      
pursuant to the program of comprehensive
 assistance for family caregivers of the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs      
established under section #agbj;,g7a7 of
 title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code2 and  
7ii7 make such component available on   
the ,internet website of the ,department
 that relates to caregiver training4    

7,b7 ,family members ,the ,secretary    
shall carry out the component of the    
education program that relates to the   
education and training of non-caregiver 
family members at facilities of the     
,department as follows3 7i7 ,not less   
than five medical centers of the        
,department4  7ii7 ,not less than five  
clinics of the ,department4  7iii7 ,not 
less than five ,vet ,centers 7as defined
 in section #agab;,a7h7 of title #ch1   
,united ,states ,code74  7,c7           
,solicitation of applications ,in       
selecting locations pursuant to         
subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretary shall 
solicit applications from eligible      
facilities of the ,department that are  
interested in carrying out the education
 program4  7,d7 ,considerations ,in     
selecting locations pursuant to         
subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretary shall 
consider the feasibility and            
advisability of selecting locations in  
the following areas3 7i7 ,rural areas4  
7ii7 ,areas that are not in close       

proximity to an active duty             
installation4  7iii7 ,areas in different
 geographic locations4  7#d7 ,contracts 
7,a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the   
education program1 the ,secretary shall 
enter into contracts with qualified     
entities described in subparagraph 7,b7 
to offer the course of education        
described in paragraph 7#e7 to family   
members and caregivers of eligible      
veterans and covered veterans4  7,b7    
,qualified entity described ,a qualified
 entity described in this subparagraph  
is a non-profit entity with experience  
in mental health education and outreach1
 including work with children1 teens1   
and young adults1 that-- 7i7 uses high  
quality1 relevant1 and age-appropriate  
information in educational programming1 
materials1 and coursework1 including    
such programming1 materials1 and        
coursework for children1 teens1 and     
young adults2 and  7ii7 works with      
agencies1 departments1 nonprofit mental 
health organizations1 early childhood   

educators1 and mental health providers  
to develop educational programming1     
materials1 and coursework4  7,c7        
,priority ,in entering into contracts   
under this paragraph1 the ,secretary    
shall give priority to qualified        
entities that have demonstrated cultural
 competence in serving military and     
veteran populations1 and1 to the extent 
practicable1 use internet technology for
 the delivery of course content in an   
effort to expand the availability of    
support services1 especially in rural   
areas4  7#e7 ,course of education       
described ,the course of education      
described in this paragraph shall       
consist of curriculum that includes the 
following3 7,a7 ,general education on   
different mental health disorders1      
including information to improve        
understanding of the experiences of     
individuals suffering from such         
disorders4  7,b7 ,techniques for        
handling crisis situations and          
administering mental health first aid to

 individuals suffering from a mental    
health disorder4  7,c7 ,techniques for  
coping with the stress of living with an
 individual suffering from a mental     
health disorder4  7,d7 ,information on  
additional services available for family
 members and caregivers through the     
,department or community organizations  
and providers related to mental health  
disorders4  7,e7 ,such other matters as 
the ,secretary considers appropriate4   
7c7 ,surveys  7#a7 ,in general ,the     
,secretary shall conduct a comprehensive
 survey of the satisfaction of          
individuals that have participated in   
the course of education described in    
subsection 7b77#e74 ,such survey shall  
include a solicitation of feedback on   
the following3 7,a7 ,the general        
satisfaction of those individuals with  
the education and assistance provided   
under the education program4  7,b7 ,the 
perceived effectiveness of the education
 program in providing education and     
assistance that is useful for those     

individuals4  7,c7 ,the applicability of
 the education program to the issues    
faced by those individuals4  7,d7 ,such 
other matters as the ,secretary         
considers appropriate4  7#b7            
,compilation of information ,the        
information compiled as a result of the 
surveys conducted under paragraph 7#a7  
shall be-- 7,a7 disaggregated by        
facility type at which the education    
program was carried out2 and  7,b7      
included in the annual reports under    
subsection 7d77#a74  7d7 ,reports  7#a7 
,annual reports  7,a7 ,in general ,not  
later than one year after the date of   
the commencement of the education       
program and not later than ,september   
#cj each year thereafter until #bjbd1   
the ,secretary shall submit to the      
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on-- 7i7 the  
education program2 and  7ii7 the        
feasibility and advisability of         

expanding the education program to      
include the establishment of a peer     
support program composed of individuals 
who complete the education program 7in  
this section referred to as a peer      
support program74  7,b7 ,elements ,each 
report submitted under subparagraph 7,a7
 shall include the following3 7i7 ,the  
number of individuals that participated 
in the course of education described in 
subsection 7b77#e7 during the year      
preceding the submission of the report4 
7ii7 ,a detailed analysis of the surveys
 conducted under subsection 7c7 with    
respect to the individuals described in 
clause 7i74  7iii7 ,any plans for       
expansion of the education program4     
7iv7 ,an analysis of the feasibility and
 advisability of establishing a peer    
support program4  7v7 ,the interim      
findings and conclusions of the         
,secretary with respect to the success  
of the education program and the        
feasibility and advisability of         
establishing a peer support program4    

7#b7 ,final report  7,a7 ,in general    
,not later than one year after the      
completion of the education program1 the
 ,secretary shall submit to the         
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,senate a final report on the           
feasibility and advisability of         
continuing the education program4  7,b7 
,elements ,the final report under       
subparagraph 7,a7 shall include the     
following3 7i7 ,a detailed analysis of  
the surveys conducted under subsection  
7c74  7ii7 ,an analysis of the          
feasibility and advisability of         
continuing the education program without
 entering into contracts for the course 
of education described in subsection    
7b77#e74  7iii7 ,an analysis of the     
feasibility and advisability of         
expanding the education program4  7iv7  
,an analysis of the feasibility and     
advisability of establishing a peer     
support program4  7e7 ,monitoring of    
program ,the ,secretary shall select    

mental health care providers of the     
,department to monitor the progress of  
the instruction provided under the      
education program4  7f7 ,definitions ,in
 this section3 7#a7 ,the term eligible  
veteran means a veteran who is enrolled 
in the health care system established   
under section #agje7;a7 of title #ch1   
,united ,states ,code4  7#b7 ,the terms 
caregiver and family member have the    
meaning given those terms in section    
#agbj;,g7d7 of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code4  #bjc4 ,interagency ,task
 ,force on ,outdoor ,recreation for     
,veterans  7a7 ,establishment ,not later
 than #ah months after the date on which
 the national emergency declared by the 
,president pursuant to the ,national    
,emergencies ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #afja  
et seq47 with respect to the            
,coronavirus ,disease #bjai             
7,,covid-#ai7 expires1 the ,secretary of
 ,veterans ,affairs shall establish a   
task force to be known as the ,task     
,force on ,outdoor ,recreation for      

,veterans 7in this section referred to  
as the ,task ,force74  7b7 ,composition 
,the ,task ,force shall be composed of  
the following members or their          
designees3 7#a7 ,the ,secretary of      
,veterans ,affairs4  7#b7 ,the          
,secretary of the ,interior4  7#c7 ,the 
,secretary of ,health and ,human        
,services4  7#d7 ,the ,secretary of     
,agriculture4  7#e7 ,the ,secretary of  
,defense4  7#f7 ,the ,secretary of      
,homeland ,security4  7#g7 ,the ,chief  
of the ,army ,corps of ,engineers4  7#h7
 ,at least two representatives from     
veterans service organizations4  7#i7   
,any other member that the ,secretary of
 ,veterans ,affairs determines to be    
appropriate4  7c7 ,chairpersons ,the    
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs and the
 ,secretary of the ,interior shall serve
 as co-chairpersons of the ,task ,force 
7in this section referred to as the     
,chairpersons74  7d7 ,duties  7#a7 ,task
 ,force ,the duties of the ,task ,force 
shall be-- 7,a7 to identify             

opportunities to formalize coordination 
between the ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs1 public land agencies1 and     
partner organizations regarding the use 
of public lands and other outdoor spaces
 for facilitating health and wellness   
for veterans2  7,b7 to identify barriers
 that exist to providing veterans with  
opportunities to augment the delivery of
 services for health and wellness       
through the use of outdoor recreation on
 public lands and other outdoor spaces2 
and  7,c7 to develop recommendations to 
better facilitate the use of public     
lands and other outdoor spaces for      
promoting wellness and facilitating the 
delivery of health care and therapeutic 
interventions for veterans4  7#b7       
,consultation ,the ,task ,force shall   
carry out the duties under paragraph    
7#a7 in consultation with appropriate   
veterans outdoor recreation groups4  7e7
 ,reports  7#a7 ,preliminary report ,not
 later than one year after the date on  
which the ,task ,force is established1  

the ,chairpersons shall submit to       
,congress a report on the preliminary   
findings of the ,task ,force4  7#b7     
,final report ,not later than one year  
after the date of the submission of the 
preliminary report under paragraph 7#a71
 the ,chairpersons shall submit to      
,congress a report on the findings of   
the ,task ,force1 which shall include   
the recommendations developed under     
subsection 7d77#a77;,c74  7f7 ,duration 
,the ,task ,force shall terminate on the
 date that is one year after the date of
 the submission of the final report in  
subsection 7e77#b74  7g7                
,nonapplicability of ,federal ,advisory 
,committee ,act ,the ,federal ,advisory 
,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47    
shall not apply to the ,task ,force4    
7h7 ,public lands defined ,in this      
section1 the term public lands means any
 recreational lands under the           
jurisdiction of the ,federal ,government
 or a ,state or local government4  #bjd4
 ,contact of certain veterans to        

encourage receipt of comprehensive      
medical examinations  7a7 ,notice ,not  
later than #ij days after the date of   
the enactment of this ,act1 the ,under  
,secretary of ,health of the ,department
 of ,veterans ,affairs shall seek to    
contact each covered veteran by mail1   
telephone1 or email to encourage each   
covered veteran to receive medical      
examinations including the following3   
7#a7 ,a comprehensive physical          
examination4  7#b7 ,a comprehensive     
mental health examination4  7#c7 ,a     
comprehensive eye examination if the    
covered veteran has not received such an
 examination in the year immediately    
preceding the date of such examination4 
7#d7 ,a comprehensive audiological      
examination if the covered veteran has  
not received such an examination in the 
year immediately preceding the date of  
such examination4  7b7 ,examinations    
7#a7 ,va health care facilities ,if a   
covered veteran elects to receive more  
than one examination described in       

subsection 7a7 at a health care facility
 of the ,department of ,veterans        
,affairs1 the ,under ,secretary of      
,health shall seek to furnish all such  
scheduled examinations on the same day4 
7#b7 ,community care ,pursuant to       
subsection 7d7 or 7e7 of section #agjc  
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 a  
covered veteran may receive an          
examination described in subsection 7a7 
from a health care provider described in
 subsection 7c7 of that section4  7c7   
,transportation  7#a7 ,beneficiary      
travel program ,pursuant to section #aaa
 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1   
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may
 pay for a rural covered veteran to     
travel to a health care facility to     
receive an examination described in     
subsection 7a74  7#b7 ,shuttle service  
,the ,under ,secretary of ,health shall 
seek to enter into agreements with      
non-profit organizations to provide     
shuttle service to rural covered        
veterans for examinations described in  

subsection 7a74  7d7 ,report required   
,not later than #ah months after the    
date of the enactment of this ,act1 the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
submit to ,congress a report regarding  
how many covered veterans scheduled     
examinations described in subsection 7a7
 after receiving a letter1 telephone    
call1 or email under that subsection4   
7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 
,the term covered veteran means a       
veteran who-- 7,a7 is enrolled in the   
patient enrollment system of the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs under 
section #agje of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code2 and  7,b7 has not        
received health care furnished or paid  
for by the ,secretary of ,veterans      
,affairs during the two years           
immediately preceding the date in       
subsection 7a77#a74  7#b7 ,the term     
rural covered veteran means a covered   
veteran-- 7,a7 who lives in an area     
served by the ,office of ,rural ,health 
of the ,department of ,veterans         

,affairs2 and  7,b7 whom the ,under     
,secretary of ,health determines        
requires assistance to travel to a      
health care facility to receive an      
examination described in subsection 7a74
  7#c7 ,the term veteran has the meaning
 given that term in section #aja of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  #bje4
 ,police crisis intervention training of
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7 
,training ,the ,secretary of ,veterans  
,affairs shall provide to ,department   
police officers an annual training on   
the prevention of suicide among the     
population served by the ,department    
police officers4  7b7 ,curriculum ,in   
carrying out subsection 7a71 the        
,secretary shall update any similar     
training provided before the date of the
 enactment of this ,act to ensure that  
the curriculum for the training         
addresses1 at a minimum1 the following3 
7#a7 ,effective behavioral science      
procedures for suicide prevention and   
risk mitigation4  7#b7 ,crisis          

intervention and de-escalation skills1  
including through the use of interactive
 training4  7#c7 ,information about     
mental health and substance abuse       
disorders4  7#d7 ,information about     
local law enforcement crisis            
intervention teams and other resources  
for veterans experiencing mental health 
crises available by the ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs1 other elements of   
the ,federal ,government1 and the       
community in which the police officers  
serve4  7c7 ,consultation ,the          
,secretary shall ensure that the annual 
training provided to ,department police 
officers at a medical facility of the   
,department under subsection 7a7 is     
provided in consultation with law       
enforcement training accreditation      
organizations and the mental health     
experts at such facility4  7d7 ,plan on 
community partnerships ,the ,secretary  
shall ensure that each police force of a
 facility of the ,department develops a 
plan to enter into partnerships with--  

7#a7 local community mental health      
organizations and experts1 local        
community veterans organizations1 and   
local community criminal justice        
organizations and experts2 and  7#b7    
local police departments1 including by  
facilitating the sharing of training    
resources with crisis intervention teams
 of the local police departments4  7e7  
,report ,not later than one year after  
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
the ,secretary shall submit to the      
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,senate a report on the annual training 
under subsection 7a71 including-- 7#a7 a
 description of the curriculum of such  
training2  7#b7 with respect to the year
 preceding the date of the report-- 7,a7
 the number of facilities of the        
,department that conducted such         
training2  7,b7 the number of           
,department police officers who received
 such training2 and  7,c7 any barriers  
to ensuring that each ,department police

 officer receives such training2  7#c7  
any recommendations to address the      
barriers identified under paragraph     
7#b77;,c72 and  7#d7 the number of      
facilities of the ,department that have 
entered into partnerships pursuant to   
subsection 7d74  7f7 ,department police 
officer defined ,in this section1 the   
term ,department police officer means an
 employee of the ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs specified in section 
#ijb7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states  
,code4  ,,iii ,improvement of care and  
services for women veterans  #cja4 ,gap 
analysis of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs programs that provide          
assistance to women veterans who are    
homeless  7a7 ,analysis ,the ,secretary 
of ,veterans ,affairs shall complete an 
analysis of programs of the ,department 
of ,veterans ,affairs that provide      
assistance to women veterans who are    
homeless or precariously housed to      
identify the areas in which such        
programs are failing to meet the needs  

of such women4  7b7 ,report ,not later  
than #bgj days after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
shall submit to the ,committees on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives and the ,senate a      
report on the analysis completed under  
subsection 7a74  #cjb4 ,report on       
locations where women veterans are using
 health care from ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,report ,not    
later than #ij days after the date of   
the enactment of this ,act1 and annually
 thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs shall submit to the           
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,senate a report on the use by women    
veterans of health care from the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  7b7 
,elements ,each report required by      
subsection 7a7 shall include the        
following information3 7#a7 ,the number 
of women veterans who reside in each    
,state4  7#b7 ,the number of women      

veterans in each ,state who are enrolled
 in the patient enrollment system of the
 ,department under section #agje7;a7 of 
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7#c7 
,of the women veterans who are so       
enrolled1 the number who have received  
health care under the laws administered 
by the ,secretary at least one time     
during the one-year period preceding the
 submission of the report4  7#d7 ,the   
number of women veterans who have been  
seen at each medical facility of the    
,department during such year1           
disaggregated by facility4  7#e7 ,the   
number of appointments that women       
veterans have had at a medical facility 
of the ,department during such year1    
disaggregated by-- 7,a7 facility2 and   
7,b7 appointments for-- 7i7 primary     
care2  7ii7 specialty care2 and  7iii7  
mental health care4  7#f7 ,for each     
appointment type specified in paragraph 
7#e77;,b71 the number of appointments   
completed in-person and the number of   
appointments completed through the use  

of telehealth4  7#g7 ,if known1 an      
identification of the medical facility  
of the ,department in each ,veterans    
,integrated ,service ,network with the  
largest rate of increase in patient     
population of women veterans as measured
 by the increase in unique women veteran
 patient use4  7#h7 ,if known1 an       
identification of the medical facility  
of the ,department in each ,veterans    
,integrated ,service ,network with the  
largest rate of decrease in patient     
population of women veterans as measured
 by the decrease in unique women        
veterans patient use4  ,passed the      
,house of ,representatives ,september   
#bc1 #bjbj4;,cheryl ,l4 ,johnson1,clerk