S.609

S. 609

February 18, 2025

Mr. Blumenthal introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To improve mental health services of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents; TITLE I—IMPROVEMENT OF WORKFORCE IN SUPPORT OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE; 101. Report on market pay surveys for Readjustment Counseling Service positions; 102. Qualifications of appointees in occupations that support mental health programs; 103. Report on coordination of Veterans Health Administration with Readjustment Counseling Service; TITLE II—IMPROVEMENT OF VET CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY; 201. Vet Center defined; 202. Comptroller General report on Readjustment Counseling Service model for expansion of Vet Center footprint; 203. Improvement of guidance and information to improve veteran outreach efforts by Vet Centers; 204. Report on information technology system of Readjustment Counseling Service; TITLE III—WOMEN VETERANS; 301. Study on effectiveness of suicide prevention and mental health outreach programs of Department of Veterans Affairs for women veterans; 302. Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs to modify the REACH VET program to incorporate risk factors weighted for women veterans; 303. Review of and report on reintegration and readjustment services for veterans and family members in group retreat settings; TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS; 401. Extension of Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program; 402. Access to mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs for veterans with spinal cord injury or disorder; 403. Mental health consultations and outreach on mental health services for veterans receiving compensation for disabilities relating to mental health diagnoses; 404. Joint report on effectiveness of programs of Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense that promote access to mental health services for transitioning members of the Armed Forces