Bill Summary: Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act (H.R. 3495)

This bill, introduced by Mr. Bergman and Ms. Houlohan in the House of Representatives on June 26, 2019, aims to provide financial assistance to eligible entities to provide suicide prevention services for veterans at risk of suicide and veteran families. It proposes the use of grants awarded to these entities to coordinate and deliver suicide prevention services to reduce the risk of suicide among veterans. The bill establishes criteria for the distribution of financial assistance, including the equitable distribution of services across geographic regions, prioritizing areas with high rates of veteran suicide, and ensuring that eligible entities can assist veterans who are not currently receiving health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligible entities can include incorporated private institutions or foundations, tribally designated housing entities, and community-based organizations. The bill also defines "veteran family" as a parent, spouse, child, sibling, step-family member, extended family member, or any other individual who lives with a veteran at risk of suicide. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to provide training and technical assistance to eligible entities, develop measures and metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of assistance provided, and consult with veterans service organizations and other relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the grant program. The bill also includes provisions for the notification of recipients of financial assistance and the development of plans for beneficiaries, reporting requirements for grant recipients, and the sharing of information about potential beneficiaries. The authority to provide financial assistance under this bill is set to terminate three years after the date of the first grant award. Interim and final reports on the provision of financial assistance must be submitted to the appropriate committees of Congress, assessing the effectiveness of the program and its impact on the capacity of the Department to serve veterans at risk of suicide and their families. Please note that this HTML format may not be visually appealing as it is a plain conversion of the text content.

Rep. Glenn Grothman

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