PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2768 To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to State and local entities to carry out peer-to-peer mental health programs. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 20, 2023 Mr. LALOTA (for himself, Mr. GARBARINO, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. KILMER, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Ms. SHERRILL, Mr. COSTA, Ms. MAN- NING, Mrs. HAYES, Mr. LAWLER, Mr. BACON, Ms. SPANBERGER, Mr. CROW, Mr. HIMES, Mr. D’ESPOSITO, and Mr. RYAN) introduced the fol- lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to State and local entities to carry out peer- to-peer mental health programs. 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 ‘‘PFC Joseph P. Dwyer 4 Peer Support Program Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. PFC JOSEPH P. DWYER PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM. 6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 7 shall establish a grant program to be known as the ‘‘PFC 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:12 Apr 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2768.IH H2768 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 2768 IH Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program’’ under which the 1 Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities for the pur- 2 pose of establishing peer-to-peer mental health programs 3 for veterans. 4 (b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—In this section, 5 the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means any of the following enti- 6 ties that submit to the Secretary an application containing 7 such information and assurances as the Secretary may re- 8 quire: 9 (1) A nonprofit organization having historically 10 served veterans’ mental health needs. 11 (2) A congressionally chartered veteran service 12 organization. 13 (3) A State, local, or Tribal veteran service 14 agency, director, or commissioner. 15 (c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The recipient of a grant 16 under this section shall receive a grant in an amount that 17 does not exceed $250,000. 18 (d) USE OF FUNDS.—The recipient of a grant under 19 this section shall use the grant funds to— 20 (1) carry out a program that meets the stand- 21 ards developed under subsection (e); 22 (2) hire veterans to serve as peer specialists to 23 host group and individual meetings with veterans 24 seeking nonclinical support; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:12 Apr 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2768.IH H2768 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 2768 IH (3) provide mental health support to veterans 1 24 hours each day, seven days each week; and 2 (4) hire staff to support the program. 3 (e) PROGRAM STANDARDS.— 4 (1) ADVISORY COMMISSION.—The Secretary 5 shall establish an advisory committee for the pur- 6 pose of creating appropriate standards applicable to 7 programs established using grants under this sec- 8 tion. 9 (2) STANDARDS.—The standards developed 10 under paragraph (1) shall include initial and contin- 11 ued training for veteran peer volunteers, administra- 12 tive staffing needs, and best practices for addressing 13 the needs of each veteran served. 14 (f) NONRETENTION OF RECORDS.—The Secretary 15 may not require the recipient of a grant under this section 16 to maintain records on veterans seeking support or to re- 17 port any personally identifying information directly or in- 18 directly to the Secretary about such veterans. 19 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 20 authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 to carry out 21 this section during the 3-year period beginning on the date 22 of the enactment of this Act. 23 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:12 Apr 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2768.IH H2768 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS