Veterans Collaboration Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 183 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to promote and encourage collaboration between the Department of Vet- erans Affairs and nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher learn- ing that provide administrative assistance to veterans. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 4, 2021 Mr. WITTMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to promote and encourage collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and non- profit organizations and institutions of higher learning that provide administrative assistance to veterans. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Collaboration 4 Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Jan 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H183.IH H183 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 183 IH SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON COLLABORATION WITH NON- 1 PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 3 shall carry out a two-year pilot program to promote and 4 encourage collaboration between the Department of Vet- 5 erans Affairs and nonprofit organizations and institutions 6 of higher learning. In carrying out the pilot program, the 7 Secretary shall emphasize collaboration with— 8 (1) veterans service organizations that provide 9 personnel with appropriate credentials to assist vet- 10 erans in filing claims and appeals with the Depart- 11 ment for disability compensation; and 12 (2) educational institutions that provide pro 13 bono legal assistance to veterans. 14 (b) METRICS.—The Secretary shall establish metrics 15 to determine which organizations and institutions provide 16 the best service to veterans and seek to encourage such 17 organizations and institutions to participate in the pilot 18 program. 19 (c) LOCATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the 20 pilot program in States with the highest veteran popu- 21 lations, as determined by the Secretary. 22 (d) USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.—In carrying out the 23 pilot program, the Secretary shall use social media to pro- 24 mote the collaboration efforts carried out under the pilot 25 program and to notify veterans of such collaborations. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Jan 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H183.IH H183 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 183 IH Quarterly reports will be provided to members of the Vet- 1 erans’ Affairs Committee that document the reach of the 2 social media efforts and the number of veterans who use 3 the program. 4 (e) REPORTS.—Not later than 30 days after the end 5 of a fiscal quarter, the Secretary shall submit to the Com- 6 mittees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House 7 of Representatives a report on the pilot program, including 8 the use of social media under subsection (d) and the num- 9 ber of veterans who receive administrative assistance from 10 organizations and institutions through the program. 11 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Jan 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H183.IH H183 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS