,i  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #gagf  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,janu>y #ba1 #bjbf,mr4
 ,edw>ds 7= himself & ,ms4 ,budz9ski7   
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a 
,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code1 to require ! ,secret>y (  
,vet]ans ,affairs to e/abli% a secure   
database & messag+ plat=m to enable     
vet]ans to reconnect ) o!r vet]ans ) :om
 !y s]v$1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort  
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,vets   
,connect ,act4  #b4 ,vets ,connect      
secure database & messag+ plat=m  7a7   
,e/abli%m5t ( secure database & messag+ 
plat=m ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
%all e/abli% & ma9ta9 a secure1         
privacy-pres]v+ database & messag+      
plat=m 79 ?is section ref]r$ to z !     
,vets ,connect ,sy/em7 = ! purpose (    
enabl+ vet]ans to reconnect ) o!r       
vet]ans ) :om !y s]v$1 )\t disclos+     
p]sonal contact in=mation su* z phone   
numb]s1 email addresses1 physical       

addresses1 or social m$ia id5tifi]s     
unless expressly au?oriz$ by ! vet]an4  
7b7 ,cont5t ( sy/em ,! ,secret>y %all   
ensure t ! ,vets ,connect ,sy/em        
includes only ! m9imum in=mation        
necess>y to facilitate s]vice-bas$ mat*+
 betwe5 vet]ans1 includ+-- 7#a7         
s]vice-connection in=mation1 su* z bran*
 ( s]vice1 units1 dates ( s]vice1       
deploym5ts1 occupational specialty1 &   
rank2  7#b7 a display "n select$ by !   
vet]an1 :i* ne$ n conta9 ! vet]an's     
legal "n2 &  7#c7 any additional        
in=mation ! vet]an elects to include =  
visibility )9 ! ,sy/em by tak+ an       
affirmative1 docum5t$ opt-9 action      
execut$ )9 ! ,sy/em4  7c7 ,use )9       
,dep>tm5t ,in=mation conta9$ 9 ! ,vets  
,connect ,sy/em may n be us$ by !       
,dep>tm5t = any purpose o!r ?an op]at+1 
secur+1 & ov]see+ ! ,sy/em4  7d7 ,access
 limit$ to v]ifi$ vet]ans ,except =     
access requir$ by subsection 7c71 !     
,secret>y %all ensure t-- 7#a7 access to
 ! ,vets ,connect ,sy/em is limit$ to   

individuals ^: milit>y s]vice has be5   
v]ifi$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs or ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se2 &    
7#b7 no individual ^: s]vice has n be5  
v]ifi$ may ga9 access4  7e7 ,in=mation  
ab\t vet]ans only if !y opt 9 ,!        
,secret>y %all ensure t-- 7#a7 no vet]an
 appe>s 9 se>* results or is discov]able
 by o!r us]s unless ! vet]an has        
affirmatively opt$ 9 to p>ticipation 9 !
 ,sy/em2 &  7#b7 no vet]an's p]sonal    
contact in=mation is /or$ 91 display$   
?r\gh1 or retrievable f ! ,vets ,connect
 ,sy/em1 or disclos$ ?r\gh ! messag+    
plat=m )9 ! ,sy/em1 except to ! ext5t ! 
vet]an takes an affirmative1 docum5t$   
opt-9 action execut$ )9 ! ,sy/em4  7f7  
,options to opt-,out ,! ,secret>y %all  
ensure t a vet]an may at any "t--  7#a7 
*ange _! visibility sett+s2  7#b7       
re/rict communications f "s or all o!r  
us]s2  7#c7 opt out ( p>ticipation 9 !  
,sy/em2 or  7#d7 delete any in=mation ! 
vet]an has contribut$ to ! ,sy/em4  7g7 
,prohibition on comm]cial solicitation &

 data brok]age  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,no vet]an
 or o!r p]son or entity may use         
in=mation conta9$ 9 or d]iv$ f ! ,vets  
,connect ,sy/em =-- 7,a7 solicitation ( 
legal1 f9ancial1 or claims-relat$       
s]vices2  7,b7 adv]tis+1 m>ket+1 or     
comm]cial outrea*2 or  7,c7 any         
data-brok]age activity1 includ+ ! sale1 
transf]1 lic5s+1 or aggregation ( us]   
in=mation4  7#b7 ,contractors1          
subcontractors1 & ?ird p>ties ,no       
contractor1 subcontractor1 or ?ird p>ty 
may use ,sy/em data = any purpose o!r   
?an p]=m+ duties "u a contract ) !      
,dep>tm5t4  7h7 ,security1 audit logs1 &
 ov]sight  7#a7 ,security ,! ,secret>y  
%all implem5t indu/ry-/&>d cyb]security 
protections1 includ+ encryption1 access 
controls1 & monitor+1 to prev5t         
unau?oriz$ access1 scrap+1 mass-messag+1
 or h>ve/+ ( vet]an data 9 ! ,sy/em4    
7#b7 ,audit logs ,! ,secret>y %all      
ma9ta9 sy/em-level audit logs docum5t+  
all access1 qu]ies1 adm9i/rative        
actions1 & communications metadata 7b n 

message cont5t7 = ! purpose ( ov]sight4 
7#c7 ,ov]sight ,! ,inspector ,g5]al ( ! 
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all h    
access to su* audit logs & may conduct  
p]iodic reviews ( compliance1 security  
controls1 & misuse prev5tion4  7i7      
,p5alties = misuse ,any individual :o   
kn[+ly accesses1 attempts to access1 or 
uses in=mation 9 ! ,vets ,connect ,sy/em
 = a prohibit$ purpose or o!rwise       
violates ?is section %all be subject to 
su* p5alties z ! ,secret>y may prescribe
 by regulation & any o!r p5alties       
available "u law1 includ+ section #egja 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 if    
applicable4  7j7 ,rule ( con/ruction    
,no?+ 9 ?is section %all be con/ru$ to  
au?orize ! disclosure ( any record      
protect$ "u section #egja ( title #ch1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 or any o!r privacy 
or security law applicable to !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4