,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cbea  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #d1 #bjbj,ms4 
,ros5 7= h]self1 ,mrs4 ,capito1 ,mrs4   
,fis*]1 & ,mr4 ,pet]s7 introduc$ !      
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & 
,transportation  ,a ,,bill  ,to require 
! ,f$]al ,communications ,commission1 9 
coord9ation ) ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs1 to designate a simple1        
easy-to-rememb] dial+ code = vet]ans &  
o!r eligible individuals to use to obta9
 in=mation ab\t ! b5efits & s]vices     
provid$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort  
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,vet]ans
 ,assi/ance ,helpl9e ,act4  #b4         
,telephone helpl9e = assi/ance = vet]ans
 & o!r eligible individuals  7a7        
,def9itions ,9 ?is section--  7#a7 ! t]m
 ,commission means ! ,f$]al             
,communications ,commission2  7#b7 ! t]m
 cov]$ dial+ code means a simple1       
easy-to-rememb]1 #c-;digit dial+ code2  

7#c7 ! t]m cov]$ individual means-- 7,a7
 a vet]an2  7,b7 an individual act+ on  
behalf ( a vet]an2 or  7,c7 an          
individual1 o!r ?an a vet]an1 :o is     
eligible to receive a b5efit or s]vice  
"u a law adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y2  7#d7 
! t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs2 &  7#e7 ! t]m vet]an 
has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #aja ( 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7b7    
,e/abli%m5t ( helpl9e  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! 
,commission1 9 coord9ation ) !          
,secret>y1 & aft] conduct+ ! /udy       
requir$ "u subsection 7c71 %all         
designate a cov]$ dial+ code = !        
purposes ( a toll-free telephone helpl9e
 t a cov]$ individual may use to obta9  
in=mation ab\t1 or ?r\gh :i* a cov]$    
individual may be direct$ to1 any s]vice
 or b5efit provid$ "u a law adm9i/]$ by 
! ,secret>y1 includ+ any s]vice provid$ 
by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 9 !  
area 9 :i* ! cov]$ individual is locat$4
  7#b7 ,contract = direction ( calls ,! 
,commission1 9 coord9ation ) !          

,secret>y1 may ent] into a contract ) an
 outside entity to direct calls made to 
! telephone helpl9e e/abli%$ "u p>agraph
 7#a7 to ! appropriate p]son reg>d+ a   
s]vice or b5efit describ$ 9 t p>agraph4 
7#c7 ,live individual ,! ,commission1 9 
coord9ation ) ! ,secret>y1 %all ensure t
 a cov]$ individual us+ ! telephone     
helpl9e e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 speaks
 ) a live individual r ?an a record+4   
7c7 ,/udy requir$  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!     
,commission1 9 coord9ation ) !          
,secret>y1 %all conduct a /udy to       
det]m9e :i* cov]$ dial+ code is mo/     
appropriate = ! designation requir$ "u  
subsection 7b77#a74  7#b7 ,requirem5ts  
,9 conduct+ ! /udy requir$ "u p>agraph  
7#a71 ! ,commission1 9 coord9ation ) !  
,secret>y1 %all--  7,a7 consid] all     
cov]$ dial+ codes1 includ+ ! codes t are
 us$ = o!r purposes2  7,b7 give pref]5ce
 to any code ) :i* cov]$ individuals are
 likely to be famili>2 &  7,c7 consult )
 ! ,nor? ,am]ican ,numb]+ ,c\ncil4  7#c7
 ,deadl9e = completion ,! ,commission1 9

 coord9ation ) ! ,secret>y1 %all        
complete ! /udy requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a7
 n lat] ?an ! date t is #ahj days aft] !
 date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7#d7 ,no  
additional funds au?oriz$ ,no additional
 funds are au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to
 c>ry out ?is subsection & ?is          
subsection %all be c>ri$ out us+ am\nts 
o!rwise au?oriz$4