S. 4061 — Introduced in Senate

II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4061 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 22, 2024Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mrs. Fischer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to maintain a toll-free telephone helpline for veterans and other eligible individuals to use to obtain information about the benefits and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Assistance Helpline Act of 2024. 2. Telephone helpline for assistance for veterans and other eligible individuals (a) Maintenance of helpline (1) In general The Secretary shall maintain a toll-free telephone helpline that a covered individual may use to obtain information about, or through which a covered individual may be directed to, any service or benefit provided under a law administered by the Secretary. (2) Contract for direction of calls authorized The Secretary may enter into a contract with a third party to direct calls made to the toll-free helpline maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) to the appropriate office regarding a service or benefit described in that paragraph. (3) Live individual required The Secretary shall ensure that a covered individual using the telephone helpline maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) has the option to speak with a live individual. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered individual The term covered individual means— (A) a veteran; (B) an individual acting on behalf of a veteran; or (C) an individual, other than a veteran, who is eligible to receive a benefit or service under a law administered by the Secretary. (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (3) Veteran The term veteran has the meaning given the term in section 2002(b) of title 38, United States Code.