Veterans Assistance Helpline Act

II 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 3251 To require the Federal Communications Commission, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to designate a simple, easy-to-remem- ber dialing code for veterans and other eligible individuals to use to obtain information about the benefits and services provided by the De- partment of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 4, 2020 Ms. ROSEN (for herself, Mrs. CAPITO, Mrs. FISCHER, and Mr. PETERS) intro- duced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Com- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To require the Federal Communications Commission, in co- ordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to designate a simple, easy-to-remember dialing code 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 pur- poses. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:17 Feb 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3251.IS S3251 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 3251 IS SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Assistance 2 Helpline Act’’. 3 SEC. 2. TELEPHONE HELPLINE FOR ASSISTANCE FOR VET- 4 ERANS AND OTHER ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. 5 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 6 (1) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal 7 Communications Commission; 8 (2) the term ‘‘covered dialing code’’ means a 9 simple, easy-to-remember, 3-digit dialing code; 10 (3) the term ‘‘covered individual’’ means— 11 (A) a veteran; 12 (B) an individual acting on behalf of a vet- 13 eran; or 14 (C) an individual, other than a veteran, 15 who is eligible to receive a benefit or service 16 under a law administered by the Secretary; 17 (4) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 18 of Veterans Affairs; and 19 (5) the term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning given 20 the term in section 101 of title 38, United States 21 Code. 22 (b) ESTABLISHMENT OF HELPLINE.— 23 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, in coordi- 24 nation with the Secretary, and after conducting the 25 study required under subsection (c), shall designate 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:17 Feb 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3251.IS S3251 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •S 3251 IS a covered dialing code for the purposes of a toll-free 1 telephone helpline that a covered individual may use 2 to obtain information about, or through which a cov- 3 ered individual may be directed to, any service or 4 benefit provided under a law administered by the 5 Secretary, including any service provided by the De- 6 partment of Veterans Affairs in the area in which 7 the covered individual is located. 8 (2) CONTRACT FOR DIRECTION OF CALLS.—The 9 Commission, in coordination with the Secretary, may 10 enter into a contract with an outside entity to direct 11 calls made to the telephone helpline established 12 under paragraph (1) to the appropriate person re- 13 garding a service or benefit described in that para- 14 graph. 15 (3) LIVE INDIVIDUAL.—The Commission, in co- 16 ordination with the Secretary, shall ensure that a 17 covered individual using the telephone helpline estab- 18 lished under paragraph (1) speaks with a live indi- 19 vidual rather than a recording. 20 (c) STUDY REQUIRED.— 21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, in coordi- 22 nation with the Secretary, shall conduct a study to 23 determine which covered dialing code is most appro- 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:17 Feb 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3251.IS S3251 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •S 3251 IS priate for the designation required under subsection 1 (b)(1). 2 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—In conducting the study 3 required under paragraph (1), the Commission, in 4 coordination with the Secretary, shall— 5 (A) consider all covered dialing codes, in- 6 cluding the codes that are used for other pur- 7 poses; 8 (B) give preference to any code with which 9 covered individuals are likely to be familiar; and 10 (C) consult with the North American 11 Numbering Council. 12 (3) DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION.—The Com- 13 mission, in coordination with the Secretary, shall 14 complete the study required under paragraph (1) not 15 later than the date that is 180 days after the date 16 of enactment of this Act. 17 (4) NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.—No 18 additional funds are authorized to be appropriated 19 to carry out this subsection and this subsection shall 20 be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized. 21 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:17 Feb 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S3251.IS S3251 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS