,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aidd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bg1 #bjba,mr4 ,reed 7for himself and ,mr4 ,tester7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to improve ,vet ,centers of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,vet ,center ,improvement ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,vet ,center ,the term ,vet ,center has the meaning given that term in section #agab;,a7h7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,veterans service organization ,the term veterans service organization means an organization recognized by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for the representation of veterans under section #eijb of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 #c4 ,productivity expectations for readjustment counselors of ,vet ,centers 7a7 ,evaluation of productivity expectations ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall evaluate productivity expectations for readjustment counselors of ,vet ,centers1 including by obtaining systematic feedback from counselors on such expectations1 including with respect to following3 7#a7 ,any potential effects of productivity expectations1 whether positive or negative1 on client care4 7#b7 ,distances readjustment counselors may travel to appointments1 especially with respect to serving rural veterans4 7#c7 ,the possibility that some veterans may not want to use nor benefit from telehealth or group counseling4 7#d7 ,availability and access of veteran populations to broadband and telehealth4 7#e7 ,any effect of productivity expectations on readjustment counselors1 including with respect to recruitment1 retention1 and welfare4 7#f7 ,whether productivity expectations provide incentives or pressure to inaccurately report client visits4 7#g7 ,whether directors and readjustment counselors of ,vet ,centers need additional training or guidance on how productivity expectations are calculated4 7#h7 ,such other criteria as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7b7 ,systematic feedback 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 make every effort to ensure that all readjustment counselors of ,vet ,centers are given the opportunity to fully provide feedback1 positive or negative1 on all items under subsection 7a72 7,b7 collect and safely store the feedback obtained under subsection 7a7-- 7i7 in an electronic database that cannot be altered by any party2 7ii7 in an anonymized manner1 in order to protect the privacy of each respondent2 and 7iii7 in a manner that allows for evaluation by third parties of the feedback1 such as audit of the feedback by the ,government ,accountability ,office2 and 7,c7 provide the feedback obtained under subsection 7a7 in an anonymized manner to the working group established under section #e4 7#b7 ,government ,accountability ,office audit ,not less frequently than once each year during the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall audit the feedback obtained from readjustment counselors of ,vet ,centers under subsection 7a74 7c7 ,implementation of changes ,not later than #ij days after the date of the completion of the evaluation required by subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall implement any needed changes to the productivity expectations described in such subsection in order to ensure-- 7#a7 quality of care and access to care for veterans2 and 7#b7 the welfare of readjustment counselors4 7d7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the completion of the evaluation required by subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on-- 7#a7 the findings of the evaluation2 and 7#b7 any planned or implemented changes described in subsection 7c74 7e7 ,plan for reassessment and implementation 7#a7 ,plan ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall develop and implement a plan for-- 7,a7 reassessing productivity expectations for readjustment counselors of ,vet ,centers1 in consultation with such counselors2 and 7,b7 implementing any needed changes to such expectations1 as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7#b7 ,reassessments ,under the plan required by paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall conduct a reassessment described in such paragraph not less frequently than once each year4 #d4 ,staffing model for ,vet ,centers 7a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall develop and implement a staffing model for ,vet ,centers that incorporates key practices in the design of such staffing model4 7b7 ,elements ,in developing the staffing model under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 involve key stakeholders1 including readjustment counselors1 outreach specialists1 and directors of ,vet ,centers2 7#b7 incorporate key work activities and the frequency and time required to conduct such activities2 7#c7 ensure the data used in the model is high quality to provide assurance that staffing estimates are reliable2 and 7#d7 incorporate-- 7,a7 risk factors1 including case complexity2 7,b7 geography2 7,c7 availability1 advisability1 and willingness of veterans to use telehealth or group counseling2 and 7,d7 such other factors as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7c7 ,plan for assessments and updates ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall develop a plan for-- 7#a7 assessing and updating the staffing model developed and implemented under subsection 7a7 not less frequently than once every four years2 and 7#b7 implementing any needed changes to such model1 as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 #e4 ,working group of readjustment counselors1 outreach specialists1 and directors of ,vet ,centers 7a7 ,in general ,in conducting the evaluation of productivity expectations under section #c7;a7 and developing the staffing model for ,vet ,centers under section #d7;a71 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall establish a working group to assess-- 7#a7 the efficacy1 impact1 and composition of performance metrics for such expectations with respect to-- 7,a7 quality of care and access to care for veterans2 and 7,b7 the welfare of readjustment counselors and other employees of ,vet ,centers2 and 7#b7 key considerations for the development of such staffing model1 including with respect to-- 7,a7 quality of care and access to care for veterans and other individuals eligible for care through ,vet ,centers2 and 7,b7 recruitment1 retention1 and welfare of employees of ,vet ,centers4 7b7 ,membership ,the working group established under subsection 7a7 shall be composed of readjustment counselors1 outreach specialists1 and directors of ,vet ,centers4 7c7 ,feedback and recommendations ,the working group established under subsection 7a7 shall provide to the ,secretary-- 7#a7 feedback from readjustment counselors1 outreach specialists1 and directors of ,vet ,centers2 and 7#b7 recommendations on how to improve-- 7,a7 quality of care and access to care for veterans2 and 7,b7 the welfare of readjustment counselors and other employees of ,vet ,centers4 #f4 ,improvements of hiring practices at ,vet ,centers 7a7 ,standardization of position descriptions 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall standardize descriptions of position responsibilities at ,vet ,centers4 7#b7 ,reporting requirement ,in each of the first two annual reports submitted under section #gcji7;e7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall include a description of the actions taken by the ,secretary to carry out paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,expansion of reporting requirements on readjustment counseling to include actions to reduce staffing vacancies and time to hire ,section #gcji7;e77#b7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,d7 ,a description of actions taken by the ,secretary to reduce-- 7i7 vacancies in counselor positions in the ,readjustment ,counseling ,service2 and 7ii7 the time it takes to hire such counselors4 4 #g4 ,report by ,government ,accountability ,office on ,vet ,center infrastructure and future investments 7a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report on physical infrastructure and future investments with respect to ,vet ,centers4 7b7 ,elements ,the report required by subsection 7a7 shall include the following3 7#a7 ,an assessment of-- 7,a7 the condition of the physical infrastructure of all assets of ,vet ,centers1 whether owned or leased by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs2 and 7,b7 the short-1 medium-1 and long-term plans of the ,department to maintain and upgrade the physical infrastructure of ,vet ,centers to address the operational needs of ,vet ,centers as of the date of the submittal of the report and future needs4 7#b7 ,an assessment of management and strategic planning for the physical infrastructure of ,vet ,centers1 including whether the ,department should buy or lease existing or additional locations in areas with stable or growing populations of veterans4 7#c7 ,an assessment of whether1 as of the date of the submittal of the report1 ,vet ,center buildings1 mobile ,vet ,centers1 community access points1 and similar infrastructure are sufficient to care for veterans or if such infrastructure is negatively affecting care due to limited space for veterans and ,vet ,center personnel or other factors4 7#d7 ,an assessment of the areas with the greatest need for investments in-- 7,a7 improved physical infrastructure1 including upgraded ,vet ,centers2 or 7,b7 additional physical infrastructure for ,vet ,centers1 including new ,vet ,centers owned or leased by the ,department4 7#e7 ,a description of the authorities and resources that may be required for the ,secretary to make such investments4 7#f7 ,a review of all annual reports submitted under #gcji7;e7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 before the date of the submittal of the report under subsection 7a74 #h4 ,pilot program to combat food insecurity among veterans and family members of veterans 7a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible entities to support partnerships that address food insecurity among veterans and family members of veterans who receive services through ,vet ,centers or other facilities of the ,department as determined by the ,secretary4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,for purposes of the pilot program1 an eligible entity is-- 7#a7 a nonprofit organization2 7#b7 a veterans service organization2 7#c7 a public agency2 7#d7 a community-based organization2 or 7#e7 an institution of higher education4 7c7 ,application ,an eligible entity seeking a grant under the pilot program shall submit to the ,secretary an application therefor at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7d7 ,selection ,the ,secretary shall select eligible entities that submit applications under subsection 7c7 for the award of grants under the pilot program using a competitive process that takes into account the following3 7#a7 ,capacity of the applicant entity to serve veterans and family members of veterans4 7#b7 ,demonstrated need of the population the applicant entity would serve4 7#c7 ,demonstrated need of the applicant entity for assistance from the grant4 7#d7 ,such other criteria as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7e7 ,distribution ,the ,secretary shall ensure1 to the extent practicable1 an equitable geographic distribution of grants awarded under this section4 7f7 ,minimum program requirements ,any grant awarded under this section shall be used-- 7#a7 to carry out a collaboration between one or more eligible entities and one or more ,vet ,centers or other facilities of the ,department for five years2 7#b7 to increase participation in nutrition counseling programs and provide educational materials and counseling to veterans and family members of veterans to address food insecurity and healthy diets among those individuals2 7#c7 to increase access to and enrollment in ,federal assistance programs1 including the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq471 the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children established by section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf71 the low-income home energy assistance program established under the ,low-,income ,home ,energy ,assistance ,act of #aiha 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hfba et seq471 and any other assistance program that the ,secretary considers advisable2 and 7#d7 to fulfill such other criteria as the ,secretary considers appropriate to further the purpose of the grant and serve veterans4 7g7 ,provision of information ,each entity that receives a grant under this section shall provide to the ,secretary1 at least once each year during the duration of the grant term1 data on-- 7#a7 the number of veterans and family members of veterans screened for1 and enrolled in1 programs described in paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 of subsection 7f72 7#b7 other services provided by the entity to veterans and family members of veterans using funds from the grant2 and 7#c7 such other data as the ,secretary may require4 7h7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report on the status of the implementation of this section4 7i7 ,government ,accountability ,office report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date on which the pilot program terminates1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this section in reducing food insecurity among veterans and family members of veterans4 7#b7 ,elements ,the report required by paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a summary of the activities carried out under this section4 7,b7 ,an assessment of the effectiveness of the grants awarded under this section1 including with respect to eligibility screening contacts1 application assistance consultations1 and changes in food insecurity among the population served by the grant4 7,c7 ,best practices regarding the use of partnerships to improve the effectiveness of public benefit programs to address food insecurity among veterans and family members of veterans4 7,d7 ,an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of extending the term of the pilot program4 7j7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the pilot program established under subsection 7a7 #ej1jjj1jjj for each fiscal year in which the program is carried out1 beginning with the fiscal year in which the program is established4 7#b7 ,administrative expenses ,of the amounts authorized to be appropriated under paragraph 7#a71 not more than #e percent may be used for administrative expenses of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs associated with administering grants under this section4 7k7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,appropriate committees of ,congress ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,facilities of the ,department ,the term facilities of the ,department has the meaning given that term in section #agja7c7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#c7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#d7 ,public agency ,the term public agency means a department1 agency1 other unit1 or instrumentality of ,federal1 ,state1 ,tribal1 or local government4 7#e7 ,state ,the term ,state means each ,state and ,territory of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 and the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico4 7#f7 ,veteran ,the term veteran means an individual who served in the ,armed ,forces1 including an individual who served in a reserve component of the ,armed ,forces1 and who was discharged or released therefrom1 regardless of the conditions of such discharge or release4