H.R. 9661 — Introduced in House

I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9661 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 21, 2022Mr. Kim of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. Hudson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct certain outreach to legacy participants in the program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Caregiver Continuity Act. 2. Outreach to legacy participants in Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should not discharge any legacy participant within the priority group specified in section 1705(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, from the program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers, or reduce the support received by any such legacy participant under such program, on the sole basis of the final rule of the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers Improvements and Amendments Under the VA MISSION Act of 2018 (85 Fed. Reg. 46226, as in effect on October 1, 2020), or any related successor rule. (b) Outreach requirements The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— (1) identify each legacy participant that has been sent a notification from the Department of Veterans Affairs that the individual may be subject to a discharge from, reassessment of eligibility for, or reduction of benefits under, the program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers on the sole basis of the final rule specified in subsection (a); (2) provide to each such legacy participant information regarding continued eligibility for such program under the interim final rule of the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to Extension of Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers; Eligibility for Legacy Participants and Legacy Applicants (issued on September 14, 2022), or any related successor rule; and (3) take such other steps as may be necessary to ensure that legacy participants receive the most up-to-date information regarding eligibility for such program. (c) Prioritization of priority group one veterans In carrying out the outreach requirements under subsection (c), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prioritize the provision of information to legacy participants within the priority group specified in section 1705(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term family caregiver has the meaning given such term in section 1720G(d) of title 38, United States Code. (2) The term legacy participant means, with respect to the program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers, a veteran, or family caregiver thereof, who was a participant in such program as of September 30, 2020. (3) The term program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers means the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1720G(a) of title 38, United States Code.