VA Coaching into Care Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9433 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9433

   To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot
program to provide mental and behavioral health support to friends and
             families of veterans, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 24, 2026

   Mr. Kennedy of New York introduced the following bill; which was
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot
program to provide mental and behavioral health support to friends and
             families of veterans, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``VA Coaching into Care Act''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM: MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOTLINE FOR FRIENDS
              AND FAMILIES OF VETERANS.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish a pilot program (in this section referred to as the
``Program'') to maintain a toll-free hotline to provide access to
licensed mental and behavioral health support providers to eligible
recipients.
    (b) Providers.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall
ensure that--
            (1) the hotline is staffed by psychologists and social
        workers who are--
                    (A) employees of the Department of Veterans
                Affairs; and
                    (B) hired by the Secretary for the Program; and
            (2) such employees provide to eligible recipients--
                    (A) advice on how to discuss mental and behavioral
                health with a veteran; and
                    (B) appropriate referrals to programs of the
                Department or to non-Department entities that provide
                mental health services or resources.
    (c) Outreach.--
            (1) Service organizations.--Not later than 60 days after
        the Secretary establishes the Program, the Secretary shall
        provide information on the services available through the
        Program to--
                    (A) veterans service organizations; and
                    (B) other organizations that serve veterans, family
                members of veterans, or caregivers of veterans, that
                the Secretary determines appropriate.
            (2) Materials; website.--Not later than 90 days after the
        Secretary establishes the Program, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) furnish, in each Vet Center or medical facility
                of the Department, promotional flyers, brochures, and
                posters that provide information on the services
                available through the Program; and
                    (B) promote the Program on a publicly accessible
                website of the Department and in other outreach
                campaigns and activities conducted by the Secretary.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the Program terminates
under subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report
on the results of the Program. Elements of such report shall include--
            (1) with respect to calls received through the hotline--
                    (A) the number of such calls;
                    (B) the average time for such employees to answer
                such calls; and
                    (C) the average duration of such calls;
            (2) with respect to referrals provided under subsection
        (b)--
                    (A) the types of such referrals; and
                    (B) the number of such referrals;
            (3) a summary of the actions taken by the Secretary to
        comply with the requirements of subsection (c); and
            (4) recommendations of the Secretary regarding--
                    (A) whether continuing or expanding the Program is
                feasible and advisable; and
                    (B) any additional or modified authorities or
                resources required to conduct or expand the program.
    (e) Termination.--The Program shall terminate three years after the
day on which the Secretary establishes the Program.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``eligible recipient'' means, with respect to
        a veteran, any of the following:
                    (A) A family member.
                    (B) An individual who resides with a veteran.
                    (C) A friend.
            (2) The term ``family member'' includes the following:
                    (A) A spouse.
                    (B) A parent.
                    (C) A dependent.
                    (D) A sibling.
            (3) The term ``Vet Center'' has the meaning given such term
        in section 1712A of title 38, United States Code.
            (4) The term ``veterans service organization'' means an
        organization recognized under section 5902 of title 38, United
        States Code.
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