,,ii  #aaith ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #fji  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the
 ,,united ,,states  ,february #ah1      
#bjbe,mr4 ,blumenthal introduced the    
following bill2 which was read twice and
 referred to the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to     
improve mental health services of the   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and  
for other purposes4  #a4 ,short title2  
table of contents  7a7 ,short title     
,this ,act may be cited as the ,building
 ,resources and ,access for ,veterans'  
,mental ,health ,engagement ,act of     
#bjbe or the ,,brave ,act of #bjbe4  7b7
 ,table of contents ,the table of       
contents for this ,act is as follows3   
,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of        
contents4,,title ,i--,improvement of    
workforce in support of mental health   
care,sec4 #aja4 ,report on market pay   
surveys for ,readjustment ,counseling   
,service positions4,sec4 #ajb4          
,qualifications of appointees in        
occupations that support mental health  

programs4,sec4 #ajc4 ,report on         
coordination of ,veterans ,health       
,administration with ,readjustment      
,counseling ,service4,,title            
,,ii--,improvement of ,vet ,center      
infrastructure and technology,sec4 #bja4
 ,vet ,center defined4,sec4 #bjb4       
,comptroller ,general report on         
,readjustment ,counseling ,service model
 for expansion of ,vet ,center          
footprint4,sec4 #bjc4 ,improvement of   
guidance and information to improve     
veteran outreach efforts by ,vet        
,centers4,sec4 #bjd4 ,report on         
information technology system of        
,readjustment ,counseling               
,service4,,title ,,iii--,women          
veterans,sec4 #cja4 ,study on           
effectiveness of suicide prevention and 
mental health outreach programs of      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
women veterans4,sec4 #cjb4 ,requirement 
for ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to
 modify the ,,reach ,,vet program to    
incorporate risk factors weighted for   

women veterans4,sec4 #cjc4 ,review of   
and report on reintegration and         
readjustment services for veterans and  
family members in group retreat         
settings4,,title ,,iv--,other           
matters,sec4 #dja4 ,extension of ,staff 
,sergeant ,parker ,gordon ,fox ,suicide 
,prevention ,grant ,program4,sec4 #djb4 
,access to mental health residential    
rehabilitation treatment programs for   
veterans with spinal cord injury or     
disorder4,sec4 #djc4 ,mental health     
consultations and outreach on mental    
health services for veterans receiving  
compensation for disabilities relating  
to mental health diagnoses4,sec4 #djd4  
,joint report on effectiveness of       
programs of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs and ,department of ,defense    
that promote access to mental health    
services for transitioning members of   
the ,armed ,forces4  ,i ,improvement of 
workforce in support of mental health   
care  #aja4 ,report on market pay       
surveys for ,readjustment ,counseling   

,service positions  7a7 ,findings       
,congress finds that the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs1 through the ,chief  
,readjustment ,counseling ,officer1     
reviews market pay surveys in each      
,readjustment ,counseling ,service      
,district to compare the salaries of    
employees in the ,readjustment          
,counseling ,service of the ,department 
of ,veterans ,affairs1 including        
licensed professional mental health     
counselors1 social workers1 and marriage
 and family therapists1 to the salaries 
of similarly situated employees within  
the ,department and the private sector4 
7b7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days   
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the
 ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
findings specified in subsection 7a71   
which shall-- 7#a7 include an assessment
 of pay disparities between employees of

 the ,readjustment ,counseling ,service 
of the ,department and similarly        
situated employees within the           
,department and the private sector2 and 
7#b7 identify if pay-related staffing   
challenges exist1 and if so1 determine  
if each ,readjustment ,counseling       
,service ,district has initiated a      
review of third-party survey data for   
the identified occupations4  7c7        
,districts ,each report submitted under 
subsection 7b7 shall include reports    
from all ,readjustment ,counseling      
,service ,districts of the ,department1 
including-- 7#a7 areas that are         
geographically diverse2  7#b7 rural     
areas2  7#c7 highly rural areas2  7#d7  
urban areas2 and  7#e7 areas with health
 care shortages4  7d7 ,assessment of pay
 ,each report submitted under subsection
 7b7 shall include an assessment of pay 
based on the following factors3 7#a7    
,third-party survey data4  7#b7         
,geographic location4  7#c7 ,equivalent 
qualifications 7licensure1 education    

level1 or experience74  7#d7 ,short-term
 incentives4  #ajb4 ,qualifications of  
appointees in occupations that support  
mental health programs  7a7             
,psychologists ,section                 
#gdjb7;b77#h77;,c7 of title #ch1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 is amended by striking  
for a period not to exceed and all that 
follows through the period at the end   
and inserting for a reasonable period of
 time recommended by the ,under         
,secretary for ,health44  7b7 ,licensed 
professional mental health counselors   
,section #gdjb7;b77#aa77;,b7 of title   
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by striking the period at the end and   
inserting 1 except that the ,secretary  
may waive the requirement of licensure  
or certification for an individual      
licensed professional mental health     
counselor for a reasonable period of    
time recommended by the ,under          
,secretary for ,health44  #ajc4 ,report 
on coordination of ,veterans ,health    
,administration with ,readjustment      

,counseling ,service  7a7 ,in general   
,not later than #fj days after the date 
of the enactment of this ,act1 the      
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report    
regarding coordination between the      
clinical care system of the ,veterans   
,health ,administration and the         
,readjustment ,counseling ,service of   
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  
7b7 ,assessment ,the report required by 
subsection 7a7 shall include an         
assessment of the adherence by each     
,director of a ,veterans ,integrated    
,service ,network to policies of the    
,veterans ,health ,administration1 which
 require each such ,director to ensure  
that a support facility of the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs is    
aligned laterally with each ,vet ,center
 to provide supportive administrative   
and clinical collaboration to better    

serve veterans eligible for services    
from ,vet ,centers1 particularly those  
at high risk for suicide4  7c7 ,analysis
 ,the report required by subsection 7a7 
shall include an analysis of-- 7#a7     
whether staff at ,vet ,centers in the   
local area of a medical facility of the 
,department have the updated contact    
information for appropriate staff at the
 medical facility to ensure proper      
coordination of care2  7#b7 whether the 
external clinical consultant and suicide
 prevention coordinator of a medical    
facility of the ,department are         
providing counseling staff of each ,vet 
,center in the local area of the medical
 facility professional consultation not 
less frequently than monthly through    
regularly scheduled peer case           
presentations onsite at the ,vet ,center
 or via virtual or telephone            
consultation as necessary to fully      
support the coordination of care of     
patients1 particularly those at high    
risk for suicide2  7#c7 whether the     

external clinical consultant and suicide
 prevention coordinator are documenting 
any consultation conducted under        
paragraph 7#b72 and  7#d7 whether the   
,under ,secretary for ,health is        
coordinating with the ,outreach         
,specialist at each ,vet ,center to     
ensure active duty members of the ,armed
 ,forces who are participating in the   
,transition ,assistance ,program of the 
,department of ,defense are provided    
information regarding ,vet ,centers and 
the services provided at ,vet ,centers4 
7d7 ,vet ,center defined ,in this       
section1 the term ,vet ,center has the  
meaning given that term in section      
#agab;,a7h7 of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code4  ,,ii ,improvement of    
,vet ,center infrastructure and         
technology  #bja4 ,vet ,center defined  
,in this title1 the term ,vet ,center   
has the meaning given that term in      
section #agab;,a7h7 of title #ch1       
,united ,states ,code4  #bjb4           
,comptroller ,general report on         

,readjustment ,counseling ,service model
 for expansion of ,vet ,center footprint
  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 the 
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report assessing the 
model used by the ,readjustment         
,counseling ,service of the ,department 
of ,veterans ,affairs to guide the      
expansion of the real property footprint
 of ,vet ,centers4  7b7 ,elements ,the  
report required by subsection 7a7 shall 
assess-- 7#a7 whether the model         
described in such subsection adequately 
accounts for the demand for ,vet ,center
 services in rural areas2  7#b7 whether 
the frequency with which the ,secretary 
of ,veterans ,affairs is reassessing    
areas for potential expansion of ,vet   
,center services is often enough to     
address any population shifts2  7#c7    

whether such model adequately considers 
the needs of veterans in areas with high
 rates of calls to the ,veterans ,crisis
 ,line or high rates of suicide by      
veterans or members of the ,armed       
,forces2  7#d7 whether such model       
adequately accounts for trends in usage 
of mobile ,vet ,centers in a given area2
 and  7#e7 whether such model takes into
 account the unique needs of veterans   
and members of the ,armed ,forces in    
areas being assessed4  7c7 ,veterans    
,crisis ,line ,in this section1 the term
 ,veterans ,crisis ,line means the      
toll-free hotline for veterans          
established under section #agbj;,f7h7 of
 title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4      
#bjc4 ,improvement of guidance and      
information to improve veteran outreach 
efforts by ,vet ,centers ,not later than
 #ahj days after the date of the        
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall-- 7#a7      
ensure each ,vet ,center has demographic
 data1 such as age1 gender1 race1 and   

ethnicity1 for individuals eligible for 
,vet ,center services in the service    
area of such ,vet ,center to be used to 
tailor outreach activities1 including   
data on veterans who have recently      
transitioned from service in the ,armed 
,forces2  7#b7 provide ,vet ,centers    
with guidance for assessing the         
effectiveness of outreach activities1   
including guidance on metrics for those 
activities and targets against which to 
assess those metrics to determine       
effectiveness2  7#c7 develop and        
implement a process to periodically     
assess the extent to which veterans and 
members of the ,armed ,forces who are   
eligible for services from ,vet ,centers
 experience barriers to obtaining such  
services1 including a lack of awareness 
about ,vet ,centers and challenges      
accessing ,vet ,center services2 and    
7#d7 develop and implement a process to 
periodically assess the extent to which 
staff of ,vet ,centers may encounter    
barriers to providing services4  #bjd4  

,report on information technology system
 of ,readjustment ,counseling ,service  
,not later than #fj days after the date 
of the enactment of this ,act1 the      
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1       
through the ,chief ,readjustment        
,counseling ,officer of the ,veterans   
,health ,administration1 shall submit to
 the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs  
of the ,senate and the ,committee on    
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report identifying-- 
7#a7 whether the ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs is retaining or      
replacing the current information       
technology platform of the ,department1 
commonly referred to as ,r,c,s,net1     
which is currently used to manage       
certain parts of the daily work of      
employees of the ,readjustment          
,counseling ,service and operational    
data and management functions of the    
,readjustment ,counseling ,service2     
7#b7 if the ,department intends to keep 
,r,c,s,net1 the rationale for that      

decision and an identification of the   
steps the ,department is taking to      
maintain or improve the functionality of
 ,r,c,s,net and the timeline for those  
steps2 and  7#c7 if the ,department     
intends to replace ,r,c,s,net1 the      
rationale for that decision and an      
identification of the steps the         
,department is taking to implement that 
replacement1 including a timeline and   
the estimated cost for that replacement4
  ,,iii ,women veterans  #cja4 ,study on
 effectiveness of suicide prevention and
 mental health outreach programs of     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
women veterans  7a7 ,in general ,not    
later than #bdj days after the date of  
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
conduct surveys and host listening      
sessions with women veterans to         
determine the extent to which-- 7#a7    
suicide prevention1 lethal-means safety1
 and mental health resources and        
messaging campaigns of the ,department  

of ,veterans ,affairs are perceived and 
accepted by women veterans2  7#b7 women 
veterans find those resources and       
messaging campaigns effective and       
sufficiently tailored to women veterans2
  7#c7 the integration into those       
resources and messaging campaigns of    
information pertaining to military      
sexual trauma1 intimate partner         
violence1 and trauma-informed health    
care would make those resources and     
messaging campaigns more effective for  
women veterans2  7#d7 the ,department   
could make additional improvements to   
those resources and messaging campaigns1
 including the ,women's ,health         
,transition ,training ,program1 to make 
those resources and messaging campaigns 
more effective for women veterans2 and  
7#e7 programs and services of the       
,department are targeted at women       
veterans of different ages and eras of  
services1 racial and ethnic backgrounds1
 and geographical areas4  7b7           
,population studied ,the ,secretary     

shall conduct the surveys and listening 
sessions required under subsection 7a7  
in urban and rural areas and shall      
ensure such surveys and listening       
sessions are targeted at different      
demographics4  7c7 ,report ,not later   
than one year after the surveys and     
listening sessions required under       
subsection 7a7 are complete1 the        
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
findings of such surveys and listening  
sessions1 which shall document the steps
 the ,secretary intends to take to      
refine the suicide prevention1          
lethal-means safety1 and mental health  
resources and messaging campaigns of the
 ,department based on the feedback from 
such surveys and listening sessions to  
ensure the ,secretary is utilizing the  
most effective strategies4  #cjb4       
,requirement for ,department of         

,veterans ,affairs to modify the ,,reach
 ,,vet program to incorporate risk      
factors weighted for women veterans ,not
 later than #fj days after the date of  
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
initiate efforts to modify the ,recovery
 ,engagement and ,coordination for      
,health-,veterans ,enhanced ,treatment  
program 7,,reach ,,vet7 to incorporate  
into such program risk factors weighted 
for women1 such as military sexual      
trauma and intimate partner violence4   
#cjc4 ,review of and report on          
reintegration and readjustment services 
for veterans and family members in group
 retreat settings  7a7 ,review ,not     
later than #fj days after the date of   
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
review all requests for reintegration   
and readjustment services for veterans  
and family members of veterans in group 
retreat program settings under section  
#agab;,a7a77#a77;,b77ii7 of title #ch1  

,united ,states ,code1 to determine if  
current retreat programming meets       
demand1 specifically requests for-- 7#a7
 women only retreats2  7#b7 disabled    
access retreats1 particularly wheelchair
 accessible retreats2 and  7#c7 retreats
 for veterans with specific medical     
needs4  7b7 ,report ,not later than #abj
 days after the date of the enactment of
 this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit 
to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs
 of the ,senate and the ,committee on   
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on whether the
 provision by the ,secretary of         
reintegration and readjustment services 
for veterans and family members of      
veterans in group retreat program       
settings should be increased and made   
permanent1 including-- 7#a7 women only  
retreats2  7#b7 disabled access         
retreats1 particularly wheelchair       
accessible retreats2 and  7#c7 retreats 
for veterans with specific medical      
needs4  ,,iv ,other matters  #dja4      

,extension of ,staff ,sergeant ,parker  
,gordon ,fox ,suicide ,prevention ,grant
 ,program ,section #bja of the          
,commander ,john ,scott ,hannon         
,veterans ,mental ,health ,care         
,improvement ,act of #bjai 7,public ,law
 #aaf-aga2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agbj;,f note7 
is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection         
7c77#b77;,a71 by striking #gej1jjj and  
inserting #a1jjj1jjj2 and  7#b7 in      
subsection 7j71 by striking three years 
and inserting six years4  #djb4 ,access 
to mental health residential            
rehabilitation treatment programs for   
veterans with spinal cord injury or     
disorder  7a7 ,plan  7#a7 ,in general   
,not later than #fj days after the date 
of the enactment of this ,act1 the      
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a plan to   
ensure access to mental health          
residential treatment programs of the   

,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
veterans with a spinal cord injury or   
disorder4  7#b7 ,elements ,the plan     
required under paragraph 7#a7 shall     
include-- 7,a7 a staffing plan1 which   
shall include a plan for how the        
,department will-- 7i7 incorporate staff
 from other facilities to support the   
pilot program required under subsection 
7b72 and  7ii7 ensure adequate staffing 
to support the needs of veterans with a 
spinal cord injury or disorder2  7,b7 an
 assessment of medical equipment needs2 
and  7,c7 an assessment of the best     
location to deliver treatment and health
 care under the mental health           
residential treatment programs of the   
,department1 including through the use  
of spinal cord injury or disorder       
centers and spinal cord injury or       
disorder spokes4  7b7 ,pilot program    
,commencing not later than #abj days    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary shall carry out a  
pilot program to provide access to      

mental health residential treatment     
programs of the ,department for veterans
 with a spinal cord injury or disorder  
at not fewer than three medical         
facilities of the ,department4  7c7     
,report ,not later than one year after  
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
the ,secretary shall submit to the      
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on-- 7#a7 the 
implementation of the plan required     
under subsection 7a72  7#b7 the initial 
results from the pilot program under    
subsection 7b72 and  7#c7 plans to      
expand the mental health residential    
treatment programs of the ,department to
 additional medical facilities of the   
,department to address demand for the   
highly specialized treatment provided   
under such programs for veterans with a 
spinal cord injury or disorder4  #djc4  
,mental health consultations and        
outreach on mental health services for  

veterans receiving compensation for     
disabilities relating to mental health  
diagnoses  7a7 ,technical corrections   
7#a7 ,in general ,the section #aafg of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1       
relating to mental health consultations1
 is redesignated as section #aafi4  7#b7
 ,clerical amendments ,the table of     
sections at the beginning of chapter #aa
 is amended-- 7,a7 by striking the item 
relating to the section #aafg relating  
to mental health consultations2 and     
7,b7 adding after the item relating to  
section #aafh the following new item3   
#aafi4 ,mental health consultations4  4 
7b7 ,improvements ,section #aafi of such
 title1 as redesignated by subsection   
7a71 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection    
7a71 in the subsection heading1 by      
striking ,in general and inserting      
,initial mental health consultations2   
7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7b7 and
 7c7 as subsections 7c7 and 7d71        
respectively2  7#c7 by inserting after  
subsection 7a7 the following new        

subsection 7b73  7b7 ,annual mental     
health consultations and outreach ,not  
less frequently than once each year1 the
 ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 offer to each  
veteran who is receiving compensation   
under this chapter for a                
service-connected disability relating to
 a mental health diagnosis a mental     
health consultation to assess the mental
 health needs of1 and discuss other     
mental health care options for1 the     
veteran2 and  7#b7 conduct outreach to  
each veteran described in paragraph 7#a7
 regarding the availability of          
consultations described in such         
paragraph and other mental health       
services from the ,department4  2  7#d7 
in subsection 7c71 as redesignated by   
paragraph 7#b71 by inserting or 7b7     
after under subsection 7a7 both places  
it appears2 and  7#e7 in subsection 7d71
 as redesignated by paragraph 7#b71 by  
inserting or as requiring reevaluation  
of any entitlement of the veteran to    
compensation under this chapter before  

the period at the end4  7c7 ,biennial   
reports ,such section1 as amended by    
subsection 7b71 is further amended by   
adding at the end the following new     
subsection3  7e7 ,biennial reviews and  
reports  7#a7 ,not later than one year  
after the date of the enactment of the  
,,brave ,act of #bjbe1 and not less     
frequently than once every two years    
thereafter1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 
review the efficacy of the outreach of  
the ,department with respect to         
consultations offered under this        
section2 and  7,b7 submit to the        
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on-- 7i7 the  
findings of the ,secretary with respect 
to the most recent review conducted     
pursuant to subparagraph 7,a72 and  7ii7
 the plans of the ,secretary to address 
the findings described in clause 7i74   
7#b7 ,in order to facilitate reviews    
conducted under paragraph 7#a77;,a71 the

 ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 ensure veterans
 can provide feedback to the ,secretary 
on outreach described in paragraph 7#a7 
and the consultations offered under this
 section2 and  7,b7 analyze the feedback
 described in subparagraph 7,a7 that is 
provided to the ,secretary4  7#c7 ,each 
review conducted pursuant to paragraph  
7#a77;,a7 shall cover the following3    
7,a7 ,the feedback collected under      
paragraph 7#b74  7,b7 ,consultations    
sought pursuant to offers under this    
section4  7,c7 ,matters that deter      
veterans from seeking consultations     
offered under this section4  4  #djd4   
,joint report on effectiveness of       
programs of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs and ,department of ,defense    
that promote access to mental health    
services for transitioning members of   
the ,armed ,forces  7a7 ,in general ,not
 later than #ahj days after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs and the
 ,secretary of ,defense shall jointly   

submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
the actions taken or that will be taken 
by each such ,secretary1 either         
independently or jointly1 to improve the
 effectiveness of programs of the       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs and   
the ,department of ,defense that promote
 access to mental health services for   
members of the ,armed ,forces           
transitioning from service in the ,armed
 ,forces to civilian life4  7b7 ,status 
of response to ,comptroller ,general    
recommendations ,the report required    
under subsection 7a7 shall include an   
assessment of the status of the response
 by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs
 and the ,secretary of ,defense to the  
recommendations of the ,comptroller     
,general of the ,united ,states set     
forth in the ,july #bjbd report entitled
 ,,dod ,,and ,,va ,,health ,,care3      
,actions ,needed to ,better ,facilitate 

,access to ,mental ,health ,services    
,during ,military to ,civilian          
,transitions 7,,gao-#bd-ajfahi74  7c7   
,identification of duplicative efforts  
,the report required under subsection   
7a7 shall identify any duplicative      
efforts or gaps in services and         
recommend changes to programs of the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs or the
 ,department of ,defense to address such
 duplicative efforts or gaps1 including 
recommendations for legislative action4