#aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dfja ,,an ,,act ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to authorize the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to award grants to ,states to improve outreach to veterans1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,commitment to ,veteran ,support and ,outreach ,act4 #b4 ,authority for ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to award grants to ,states and ,indian ,tribes to improve outreach to veterans 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #fc of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating sections #fcjg and #fcjh and sections #fcjh and #fcji1 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after section #fcjf the following new section #fcjg3 #fcjg4 ,grants to ,states and ,indian ,tribes to improve outreach to veterans 7a7 ,purpose ,it is the purpose of this section to provide for assistance by the ,secretary to ,states and ,indian ,tribes to carry out programs that-- 7#a7 improve outreach and assistance to veterans and the spouses1 children1 and parents of veterans1 to ensure that such individuals are fully informed about any veterans and veterans-related benefits and programs 7including veterans programs of a ,state or ,indian ,tribe7 for which they may be eligible2 and 7#b7 facilitate opportunities for such individuals to receive competent1 qualified services in the preparation1 presentation1 and prosecution of veterans benefits claims4 7b7 ,authority ,the ,secretary may award grants under this section to ,states and ,indian ,tribes-- 7#a7 to carry out1 coordinate1 improve1 or otherwise enhance outreach activities2 7#b7 to increase the number of county or ,tribal veterans service officers serving in the ,state or ,indian ,tribe by hiring new1 additional such officers2 or 7#c7 to expand1 carry out1 coordinate1 improve1 or otherwise enhance existing programs1 activities1 and services of the existing organization of the ,state or ,indian ,tribe that has been recognized by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs pursuant to section #eijb1 in the preparation1 presentation1 and prosecution of claims for veterans benefits through representatives who hold positions as county or ,tribal veterans service officers4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,to be eligible for a grant under this section1 a ,state or ,indian ,tribe shall submit to the ,secretary an application therefor at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,each application submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a detailed plan for the use of the grant4 7,b7 ,a description of the programs through which the ,state or ,indian ,tribe will meet the outcome measures developed by the ,secretary under subsection 7i74 7,c7 ,a description of how the ,state or ,indian ,tribe will distribute grant amounts equitably among counties 7or ,tribal lands1 as the case may be7 with varying levels of urbanization4 7,d7 ,a plan for how the grant will be used to meet the unique needs of ,american ,indian or ,alaska ,native veterans1 elderly veterans1 women veterans1 and veterans from other underserved communities4 7d7 ,distribution ,the ,secretary shall seek to ensure that grants awarded under this section are equitably distributed among ,states and ,indian ,tribes with varying levels of urbanization4 7e7 ,priority ,the ,secretary shall prioritize awarding grants under this section that will serve the following areas3 7#a7 ,areas with a critical shortage of county or ,tribal veterans service officers4 7#b7 ,areas with high rates of-- 7,a7 suicide among veterans2 or 7,b7 referrals to the ,veterans ,crisis ,line4 7f7 ,use of county or ,tribal veterans service officers ,a ,state or ,indian ,tribe that receives a grant under this section to carry out an activity described in subsection 7b77#a7 may only carry out the activity through-- 7#a7 a county or ,tribal veterans service officer of the ,state or ,indian ,tribe2 or 7#b7 if the ,state or ,indian ,tribe does not have a county or ,tribal veterans service officer1 or if the county or ,tribal veterans service officers of the ,state or ,indian ,tribe cover only a portion of that ,state or ,indian ,tribe1 an appropriate entity of a ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7g7 ,required activities ,any grant awarded under this section shall be used-- 7#a7 to expand existing programs1 activities1 and services2 7#b7 to hire and maintain new1 additional county or ,tribal veterans service officers2 or 7#c7 for travel and transportation to facilitate carrying out paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b74 7h7 ,other permissible activities ,a grant under this section may be used to provide education and training1 including on-the-job training1 for ,state1 county1 local1 and ,tribal government employees who provide 7or when trained will provide7 veterans outreach services in order for those employees to obtain and maintain accreditation in accordance with procedures approved by the ,secretary4 7i7 ,outcome measures 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall develop and provide to each ,state or ,indian ,tribe that receives a grant under this section written guidance on the following3 7,a7 ,outcome measures4 7,b7 ,policies of the ,department4 7#b7 ,in developing outcome measures under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall consider the following goals3 7,a7 ,increasing the use of veterans and veterans-related benefits1 particularly among vulnerable populations4 7,b7 ,increasing the number of county and ,tribal veterans service officers recognized by the ,secretary for the representation of veterans under chapter #ei of this title4 7j7 ,tracking requirements 7#a7 ,with respect to each grant awarded under this section1 the ,secretary shall track the use of veterans benefits among the population served by the grant1 including the average period of time between the date on which a veteran or other eligible claimant applies for such a benefit and the date on which the veteran or other eligible claimant receives the benefit1 disaggregated by type of benefit4 7#b7 ,not less frequently than annually during the life of the grant program established under this section1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on-- 7,a7 the information tracked under paragraph 7#a72 7,b7 how the grants awarded under this section serve the unique needs of ,american ,indian or ,alaska ,native veterans1 elderly veterans1 women veterans1 and veterans from other underserved communities2 and 7,c7 other information provided by ,states and ,indian ,tribes pursuant to the grant reporting requirements4 7k7 ,performance review 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 review the performance of each ,state or ,indian ,tribe that receives a grant under this section2 and 7,b7 make information regarding such performance publicly available4 7l7 ,remediation plan 7#a7 ,in the case of a ,state or ,indian ,tribe that receives a grant under this section and does not meet the outcome measures developed by the ,secretary under subsection 7i71 the ,secretary shall require the ,state or ,indian ,tribe to submit a remediation plan under which the ,state or ,indian ,tribe shall describe how and when it plans to meet such outcome measures4 7#b7 ,the ,secretary may not award a subsequent grant under this section to a ,state or ,indian ,tribe described in paragraph 7#a7 unless the ,secretary approves the remediation plan submitted by the ,state of ,indian ,tribe4 7m7 ,maximum amount ,the amount of a grant awarded under this section may not exceed #aj percent of amounts made available for grants under this section for the fiscal year in which the grant is awarded4 7n7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,any grant awarded under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant ,state and local funding that is otherwise available4 7o7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term county or ,tribal veterans service officer includes a local equivalent veterans service officer4 7#b7 ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given such term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#c7 ,the term ,state includes the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 and any territory or possession of the ,united ,states4 7#d7 ,the term ,veterans ,crisis ,line means the toll-free hotline for veterans established under section #agbj;,f7h7 of this title4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #fc of such title is amended by striking the items relating to sections #fcjg and #fcjh and inserting the following new items3 #fcjg4 ,grants to ,states and ,indian ,tribes to improve outreach to veterans4 #fcjh4 ,outreach for eligible dependents4 #fcji4 ,biennial report to ,congress4 4 7c7 ,modification of certain housing loan fee ,the loan fee table in section #cgbi7;b77#b7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking ,january #ad1 #bjca each place it appears and inserting ,february #aj1 #bjca4 7d7 ,authorization of additional full-time equivalent employee ,during fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbh1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may hire two or more additional full-time equivalent employees in the ,office of the ,general ,counsel of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 as compared to the number of full-time equivalent employees that would otherwise be authorized for such office1 to carry out duties under the accreditation1 discipline1 and fees program4 #c4 ,determination of budgetary effects ,the budgetary effects of this ,act1 for the purpose of complying with the ,statutory ,pay-,as-,you-,go ,act of #bjaj1 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ,budgetary ,effects of ,,paygo ,legislation for this ,act1 submitted for printing in the ,congressional ,record by the ,chairman of the ,house ,budget ,committee1 provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,december #a1 #bjbb4;,clerk4