#aagth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,s4   
#aaih  ,,an ,,act  ,to amend title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 to improve and   
expand the ,solid ,start program of the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and  
for other purposes4  #a4 ,short title   
,this ,act may be cited as the ,solid   
,start ,act of #bjbb4  #b4 ,solid ,start
 program of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,chapter #fc 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is 
amended by adding at the end the        
following new subchapter3  ,,ii ,other  
outreach programs and activities  #fcbj4
 ,solid ,start program  7a7 ,in general 
,the ,secretary shall carry out a       
program1 to be known as the ,solid      
,start program1 under which the         
,secretary shall-- 7#a7 build the       
capacity of the ,department to          
efficiently and effectively respond to  
the queries and needs of veterans who   
have recently separated from the ,armed 
,forces2 and  7#b7 systemically         
integrate and coordinate efforts to     

assist veterans1 including efforts--    
7,a7 to proactively reach out to newly  
separated veterans to inform them of    
their eligibility for programs of and   
benefits provided by the ,department2   
and  7,b7 to connect veterans in crisis 
to resources that address their         
immediate needs4  7b7 ,activities of the
 ,solid ,start program  7#a7 ,the       
,secretary1 in coordination with the    
,secretary of ,defense1 shall carry out 
the ,solid ,start program of the        
,department by-- 7,a7 collecting        
up-to-date contact information during   
transition classes or separation        
counseling for all members of the ,armed
 ,forces who are separating from the    
,armed ,forces1 while explaining the    
existence and purpose of the ,solid     
,start program2  7,b7 calling each      
veteran1 regardless of separation type  
or characterization of service1 three   
times within the first year after       
separation of the veteran from the      
,armed ,forces2  7,c7 providing         

information about the ,solid ,start     
program on the website of the           
,department and in materials of the     
,department1 especially transition      
booklets and other resources2  7,d7     
ensuring calls are truly tailored to the
 needs of each veteran's unique         
situation by conducting quality         
assurance tests2  7,e7 prioritizing     
outreach to veterans who have accessed  
mental health resources prior to        
separation from the ,armed ,forces2     
7,f7 providing women veterans with      
information that is tailored to their   
specific health care and benefit needs2 
7,g7 as feasible1 providing information 
on access to ,state and local resources1
 including ,vet ,centers and veterans   
service organizations2 and  7,h7        
gathering and analyzing data assessing  
the effectiveness of the ,solid ,start  
program4  7#b7 ,the ,secretary1 in      
coordination with the ,secretary of     
,defense1 may carry out the ,solid      
,start program by-- 7,a7 encouraging    

members of the ,armed ,forces who are   
transitioning to civilian life to       
authorize alternate points of contact   
who can be reached should the member be 
unavailable during the first year       
following the separation of the member  
from the ,armed ,forces2 and  7,b7      
following up missed phone calls with    
tailored mailings to ensure the veteran 
still receives similar information4     
7#c7 ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,the term
 ,vet ,center has the meaning given that
 term in section #agab;,a7h7 of this    
title4  7,b7 ,the term veterans service 
organization means an organization      
recognized by the ,secretary for the    
representation of veterans under section
 #eijb of this title4  4  7b7           
,conforming amendments ,chapter #fc of  
such title1 as amended by subsection    
7a71 is further amended-- 7#a7 by       
inserting before section #fcja the      
following3  ,i ,outreach services       
program  2  and  7#b7 in sections #fcja1
 #fcjc1 #fcjd1 #fcje1 #fcjf1 and #fcjg1 

by striking this chapter each place it  
appears and inserting this subchapter4  
7c7 ,clerical amendments ,the table of  
sections at the beginning of chapter #fc
 of such title is amended-- 7#a7 by     
inserting before the item relating to   
section #fcja the following new item3   
,subchapter ,i--,outreach services      
program  2  and  7#b7 by adding at the  
end the following new items3            
,subchapter ,,ii--,other outreach       
programs and activities #fcbj4 ,solid   
,start program4  4  ,passed the ,senate 
,september #ai1 #bjbb4,secretary