,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #ejgb  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,decemb] #ai1 #bjbj,mr4
 ,re$ 7= himself & ,mr4 ,te/]7 introduc$
 ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice &      
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to improve ,vet   
,c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans         
,affairs1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort  
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,vet    
,c5t] ,improvem5t ,act ( #bjbj4  #b4    
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,vet ,c5t]
 ,! t]m ,vet ,c5t] has ! mean+ giv5 t   
t]m 9 section #agab;,a7h7 ( title #ch1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#b7 ,vet]ans     
s]vice organization ,! t]m vet]ans      
s]vice organization means any           
organization recogniz$ by ! ,secret>y ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs = ! repres5tation (   
vet]ans "u section #eijb ( title #ch1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  #c4 ,productivity 
expectations = readju/m5t c\nselors (   
,vet ,c5t]s  7a7 ,evaluation (          
productivity expectations ,n lat] ?an "o
 ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is     

,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs   
%all evaluate productivity expectations 
= readju/m5t c\nselors ( ,vet ,c5t]s1   
includ+ by obta9+ sy/ematic fe$back f   
c\nselors on su* expectations1 includ+ )
 respect to foll[+3 7#a7 ,any pot5tial  
effects ( productivity expectations1    
:e!r positive or negative1 on cli5t c>e4
  7#b7 ,di/ances readju/m5t c\nselors   
may travel to appo9tm5ts1 especially )  
respect to s]v+ rural vet]ans4  7#c7 ,! 
possibility t "s vet]ans may n want to  
use nor b5efit f teleheal? or gr\p      
c\nsel+4  7#d7 ,availability & access ( 
vet]an populations to broadb& &         
teleheal?4  7#e7 ,any effect on         
readju/m5t c\nselors1 includ+ ) respect 
to recruitm5t1 ret5tion1 & welf>e4  7#f7
 ,:e!r productivity expectations provide
 inc5tives or pressure to inaccurately  
report cli5t visits4  7#g7 ,:e!r        
directors & readju/m5t c\nselors ( ,vet 
,c5t]s ne$ additional tra9+ or guidance 
on h[ productivity expectations are     
calculat$4  7#h7 ,su* o!r crit]ia z !   

,secret>y consid]s appropriate4  7b7    
,sy/ematic fe$back  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!    
,secret>y %all-- 7,a7 make e ef=t to    
ensure t all readju/m5t c\nselors ( ,vet
 ,c5t]s are giv5 ! opportunity to       
provide fe$back on ! items "u subsection
 7a72  7,b7 collect & safely /ore !     
fe$back obta9$ "u subsection 7a7-- 7i7 9
 an anonymiz$ mann]1 9 ord] to protect !
 privacy ( ea* respond5t2 &  7ii7 9 a   
mann] t all[s = evaluation by ?ird      
p>ties ( ! fe$back1 su* z audit ( !     
fe$back by ! ,gov]nm5t ,acc\ntability   
,(fice2 &  7,c7 provide ! fe$back obta9$
 "u subsection 7a7 9 an anonymiz$ mann] 
to ! work+ gr\p e/abli%$ "u section #e4 
7#b7 ,gov]nm5t ,acc\ntability ,(fice    
audit ,n less frequ5tly ?an once ea* ye>
 dur+ ! five-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on ! date 
( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,comptroll]  
,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all audit !   
fe$back obta9$ f readju/m5t c\nselors ( 
,vet ,c5t]s "u subsection 7a74  7c7     
,implem5tation ( *anges ,n lat] ?an #ij 
days aft] ! date ( ! completion ( !     

evaluation requir$ by subsection 7a71 ! 
,secret>y %all implem5t any ne$$ *anges 
to ! productivity expectations describ$ 
9 su* subsection 9 ord] to ensure-- 7#a7
 quality ( c>e & access to c>e =        
vet]ans2 &  7#b7 ! welf>e ( readju/m5t  
c\nselors4  7d7 ,report to ,congress ,n 
lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( !      
completion ( ! evaluation requir$ by    
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all submit 
to ,congress a report on-- 7#a7 ! f9d+s 
( ! evaluation2 &  7#b7 any plann$ or   
implem5t$ *anges describ$ 9 subsection  
7c74  7e7 ,plan = reassessm5t &         
implem5tation  7#a7 ,plan ,n lat] ?an "o
 ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is     
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all develop &        
implem5t a plan =-- 7,a7 reassess+      
productivity expectations = readju/m5t  
c\nselors ( ,vet ,c5t]s1 9 consultation 
) su* c\nselors2 &  7,b7 implem5t+ any  
ne$$ *anges to su* expectations1 z !    
,secret>y det]m9es appropriate4  7#b7   
,reassessm5ts ,"u ! plan requir$ by     
p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,secret>y %all conduct 

a reassessm5t describ$ 9 su* p>agraph n 
less frequ5tly ?an once ea* ye>4  #d4   
,/aff+ models = ,vet ,c5t]s  7a7 ,9     
g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( !
 enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs %all develop &        
implem5t a /aff+ model = ,vet ,c5t]s t  
incorporates key practices 9 ! design ( 
/aff+ models4  7b7 ,elem5ts ,9 develop+ 
! /aff+ model "u subsection 7a71 !      
,secret>y %all-- 7#a7 involve key       
/akehold]s1 includ+ readju/m5t          
c\nselors1 outrea* speciali/s1 &        
directors ( ,vet ,c5t]s2  7#b7          
incorporate key "w activities & !       
frequ5cy & "t requir$ to conduct su*    
activities2  7#c7 ensure ! quality (    
data us$ 9 ! model to provide assurance 
t /aff+ e/imates are reliable2 &  7#d7  
incorporate-- 7,a7 risk factors1 includ+
 case complexity1 geography1 &          
availability1 advisability1 & will+ness 
( vet]ans to use teleheal? or gr\p      
c\nsel+2 &  7,b7 su* o!r factors z !    
,secret>y consid]s appropriate4  7c7    

,plan = assessm5ts & updates ,n lat] ?an
 "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is  
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all develop a plan   
=-- 7#a7 assess+ & updat+ ! /aff+ model 
develop$ & implem5t$ "u subsection 7a7 n
 less frequ5tly ?an once e f\r ye>s2 &  
7#b7 implem5t+ any ne$$ *anges to su*   
model1 z ! ,secret>y det]m9es           
appropriate4  #e4 ,work+ gr\p (         
readju/m5t c\nselors1 outrea*           
speciali/s1 & directors ( ,vet ,c5t]s   
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 conduct+ ! evaluation ( 
productivity expectations describ$ 9    
section #c & develop+ ! /aff+ model     
describ$ 9 section #d1 ! ,secret>y (    
,vet]ans ,affairs %all e/abli% a work+  
gr\p to assess-- 7#a7 ! efficacy1       
impact1 & composition ( p]=mance metrics
 = su* expectations ) respect to-- 7,a7 
quality ( c>e & access to c>e = vet]ans2
 &  7,b7 ! welf>e ( readju/m5t c\nselors
 & o!r employees ( ,vet ,c5t]s2 &  7#b7 
key consid]ations = ! developm5t ( a    
/aff+ model = ,vet ,c5t]s1 includ+--    
7,a7 quality ( c>e & access to c>e =    

vet]ans & o!r individuals eligible = c>e
 ?r\gh ,vet ,c5t]s2 &  7,b7 recruitm5t1 
ret5tion1 & welf>e ( employees ( ,vet   
,c5t]s4  7b7 ,memb]%ip ,! work+ gr\p    
e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a7 %all be      
compos$ ( readju/m5t c\nselors1 outrea* 
speciali/s1 & directors ( ,vet ,c5t]s4  
7c7 ,fe$back2 recomm5dations ,! work+   
gr\p e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a7 %all    
provide to ! ,secret>y-- 7#a7 fe$back f 
readju/m5t c\nselors1 outrea*           
speciali/s1 & directors ( ,vet ,c5t]s2 &
  7#b7 recomm5dations on h[ to improve--
 7,a7 quality ( c>e & access to c>e =   
vet]ans2 &  7,b7 ! welf>e ( readju/m5t  
c\nselors & o!r employees ( ,vet ,c5t]s4
  #f4 ,improvem5ts ( hir+ practices at  
,vet ,c5t]s  7a7 ,/&>dization ( position
 descriptions  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an
 "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is  
,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs   
%all /&>dize descriptions ( position    
responsibilities at ,vet ,c5t]s4  7#b7  
,report+ requirem5t ,9 ea* ( ! fir/ two 
annual reports submitt$ "u section      

#gcji7;e7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is   
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all include a        
description ( ! actions tak5 by !       
,secret>y to c>ry out p>agraph 7#a74    
7b7 ,expansion ( report+ requirem5ts on 
readju/m5t c\nsel+ ,to include actions  
,to r$uce /aff+ vacancies & "t ,to hire 
,section #gcji7;e7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+ new subp>agraph3  7,d7 ,a      
description ( actions tak5 by !         
,secret>y to r$uce-- 7i7 vacancies 9    
c\nselor positions 9 ! ,readju/m5t      
,c\nsel+ ,s]vice2 &  7ii7 ! "t x takes  
to hire su* c\nselors4  4  #g4 ,report  
by ,gov]nm5t ,acc\ntability ,(fice on   
,vet ,c5t] infra/ructure & future       
inve/m5ts  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o  
ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
%all submit to ,congress a report on    
physical infra/ructure & future         
inve/m5ts ) respect to ,vet ,c5t]s4  7b7
 ,elem5ts ,! report requir$ by          

subsection 7a7 %all include ! foll[+3   
7#a7 ,an assessm5t (-- 7,a7 ! condition 
( ! physical infra/ructure ( all assets 
( ,vet ,c5t]s1 :e!r own$ or leas$ by !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs2 &  7,b7 !
 %ort-1 m$ium-1 & long-t]m plans ( !    
,dep>tm5t to ma9ta9 & upgrade ! physical
 infra/ructure ( ,vet ,c5t]s to address 
! op]ational ne$s ( ,vet ,c5t]s z ( !   
date ( ! date ( ! submittal ( ! report &
 future ne$s4  7#b7 ,an assessm5t (     
managem5t & /rategic plann+ = ! physical
 infra/ructure ( ,vet ,c5t]s1 includ+   
:e!r ! ,dep>tm5t %\ld buy or lease exi/+
 or additional locations 9 areas ) /able
 or gr[+ populations ( vet]ans4  7#c7   
,an assessm5t ( :e!r1 z ( ! date ( !    
submittal ( ! report1 ,vet ,c5t]        
build+s1 mobile ,vet ,c5t]s1 community  
access po9ts1 & simil> infra/ructure are
 suffici5t to c>e = vet]ans or if su*   
infra/ructure is negatively affect+ c>e 
due to limit$ space = vet]ans & ,vet    
,c5t] p]sonnel or o!r factors4  7#d7 ,an
 assessm5t ( ! areas ) ! greate/ ne$ =  

inve/m5ts 9-- 7,a7 improv$ physical     
infra/ructure1 includ+ upgrad$ ,vet     
,c5t]s2 or  7,b7 additional physical    
infra/ructure = ,vet ,c5t]s1 includ+ new
 ,vet ,c5t]s own$ or leas$ by !         
,dep>tm5t4  7#e7 ,a description ( !     
au?orities & res\rces t may be requir$ =
 ! ,secret>y to make su* inve/m5ts4     
7#f7 ,a review ( all annual reports     
submitt$ "u #gcji7;e7 ( title #ch1      
,unit$ ,/ates ,code be=e ! date ( !     
submittal ( ! report "u subsection 7a74 
#h4 ,pilot program to combat food       
insecurity among vet]ans & family memb]s
 ( vet]ans  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o 
ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all   
e/abli% a pilot program to aw>d grants  
to eligible entities to support         
p>tn]%ips t address food insecurity     
among vet]ans & family memb]s ( vet]ans 
:o receive s]vices ?r\gh ,vet ,c5t]s or 
o!r facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans 
,affairs z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4  7b7 
,eligible entities ,= purposes ( ! pilot

 program1 an eligible entity is-- 7#a7 a
 nonpr(it organization2  7#b7 a vet]ans 
s]vice organization2  7#c7 a public     
ag5cy2  7#d7 a community-bas$           
organization2 or  7#e7 an in/itution (  
high] education4  7c7 ,locations ,9     
c>ry+ out ! pilot program1 ! ,secret>y  
%all aw>d at lea/ "o grant to at lea/ "o
 eligible entity 9 ea* ,/ate1 if !      
,secret>y det]m9es t !re is su* an      
entity 9 a ,/ate t has appli$ =1 & meets
 requirem5ts = ! aw>d (1 su* a grant4   
7d7 ,m9imum program requirem5ts ,any    
grant aw>d$ "u ?is section %all be us$--
 7#a7 to c>ry out a collaboration betwe5
 "o or m public ag5cies & "o or m ,vet  
,c5t]s or o!r facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t =
 five ye>s2  7#b7 to increase           
p>ticipation 9 nutrition c\nsel+        
programs & provide educational mat]ials 
& c\nsel+ to vet]ans & family memb]s (  
vet]ans to address food insecurity &    
heal?y diets among ^? individuals2  7#c7
 to increase access to & enrollm5t 9    
,f$]al assi/ance programs1 includ+ !    

supplem5tal nutrition assi/ance program 
"u ! ,food & ,nutrition ,act ( #bjjh 7#g
 ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq471 ! special    
supplem5tal nutrition program = wom51   
infants1 & *ildr5 e/abli%$ by section   
#ag ( ! ,*ild ,nutrition ,act ( #aiff   
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf71 & ! l[-income    
home en]gy assi/ance program e/abli%$ "u
 ! ,l[-,income ,home ,en]gy ,assi/ance  
,act ( #aiha 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hfba et    
seq471 & any o!r assi/ance program t !  
,secret>y deems advisable4  7e7         
,application ,an eligible entity seek+ a
 grant "u ! pilot program %all submit to
 ! ,secret>y an application !re= at su* 
"t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation
 z ! ,secret>y may require4  7f7        
,selection ,! ,secret>y %all select     
eligible entities t submit applications 
"u subsection 7e7 = ! aw>d ( grants "u !
 pilot program us+ a competitive process
 t takes into acc\nt ! foll[+3 7#a7     
,capacity ( ! applicant entity to s]ve  
vet]ans & family memb]s ( vet]ans4  7#b7
 ,demon/rat$ ne$ ( ! population !       

applicant entity w\ld s]ve4  7#c7       
,demon/rat$ ne$ ( ! applicant entity =  
assi/ance f ! grants4  7#d7 ,su* o!r    
crit]ia z ! ,secret>y consid]s          
appropriate4  7g7 ,report ,n lat] ?an   
#ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !     
appropriate committees ( ,congress a    
report on ! /atus ( ! implem5tation (   
?is section4  7h7 ,gov]nm5t             
,acc\ntability ,(fice report  7#a7 ,9   
g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date on 
:i* ! pilot program t]m9ates1 !         
,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
%all submit to ,congress a report       
evaluat+ ! effectiv5ess ( ! activities  
c>ri$ out "u ?is section 9 r$uc+ food   
insecurity among vet]ans & family memb]s
 ( vet]ans4  7#b7 ,elem5ts ,! report    
requir$ by p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ! 
foll[+3 7,a7 ,a summ>y ( ! activities   
conduct$ "u ?is section4  7,b7 ,an      
assessm5t ( ! effectiv5ess ( ! grants   
aw>d$ "u ?is section4  7,c7 ,be/        
practices reg>d+ ! use ( p>tn]%ips to   

improve ! effectiv5ess ( public b5efit  
programs to address food insecurity     
among vet]ans & family memb]s ( vet]ans4
  7,d7 ,an assessm5t ( ! feasiblity &   
advisability ( ext5d+ ! t]m ( ! pilot   
program4  7i7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is        
section3 7#a7 ,appropriate committees ( 
,congress ,! t]m appropriate committees 
( ,congress means-- 7,a7 ! ,committee on
 ,vet]ans' ,affairs & ! ,committee on   
,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate2 &  7,b7 !   
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs & !    
,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives4  7#b7 ,in/itution (  
high] education ,! t]m in/itution (     
high] education has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9
 section #aja ( ! ,high] ,education ,act
 ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74  7#c7   
,public ag5cy ,! t]m public ag5cy means 
a dep>tm5t1 ag5cy1 o!r unit1 or         
in/rum5tality ( ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or local 
gov]nm5t4  7#d7 ,/ate ,! t]m ,/ate means
 ea* ,/ate & ,t]ritory ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 & ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia4  7#e7 ,vet]an
 ,! t]m vet]an means an individual :o   

s]v$ 9 ! ,arm$ ,=ces1 includ+ an        
individual :o s]v$ 9 a res]ve compon5t (
 ! ,arm$ ,=ces1 & :o 0 dis*>g$ or       
releas$ !refrom1 reg>dless ( !          
conditions ( su* dis*>ge or release4