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Public Law116th CongressArmed Forces and National Security
H.R. 8247Became Law

Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020

This bill became law

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Law

What it doesSummary public law (Dec 5, 2020)

Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020 or the Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020

This bill implements programs, policies, and reports related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) transition assistance, suicide care, mental health education and treatment, health care, and women veteran care.

(Sec. 101) This section requires the VA to carry out a two-year pilot program on information sharing between the VA and designated persons regarding the assistance and benefits available to veterans.

(Sec. 102) The VA must annually report (for a period of five years) on its Solid Start program, which is an outreach program for those in their first year of separation from the military. The report must exclude any personally identifiable information regarding a veteran.

(Sec. 201) The VA must furnish or pay for emergent suicide care, including transportation costs, at a VA or non-VA facility for certain veterans. The bill requires the VA to ensure certain notification procedures occur in relation to veterans receiving emergent suicide care.

The VA must determine the eligibility of individuals receiving emergent suicide care for other VA programs and benefits. Additionally, the VA must make referrals, as appropriate, for care following the period of emergent suicide care.

(Sec. 202) The VA must establish a four-year education program for the education and training of caregivers and family members of veterans with mental health disorders.

(Sec. 203) This section requires the VA to establish the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans to report on and make recommendations regarding the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for medical treatment and therapy for veterans.

(Sec. 204) The VA must seek to contact covered veterans to encourage them to receive comprehensive physical, mental health, eye, and audiological examinations. A covered veteran is a veteran who is enrolled in the VA health care system and has not received health care furnished or paid for by the VA in the past two years.

Under the bill, if a covered veteran elects to receive more than one of the comprehensive examinations at a VA health care facility, the VA shall seek to furnish all such examinations on the same day. A covered veteran may also receive an examination from another specified health care provider.

The bill provides that the VA may pay for a rural covered veteran to travel to a health care facility to receive a comprehensive examination.

The VA shall seek to enter into agreements with nonprofit organizations to provide shuttle service to rural covered veterans for such examinations.

(Sec. 205) The VA must provide its police officers with annual training on the prevention of suicide among the population it serves. Each police force of a VA facility must develop a plan to enter into partnerships with local community mental health organizations and experts, local community veterans organizations, local community criminal justice organizations and experts, and local police departments.

(Sec. 301) The VA must complete an analysis and report on its programs that provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless or precariously housed to identify the areas in which such programs are failing to meet the needs of such women.

(Sec. 302) The VA must annually report on the use of VA health care by women veterans.

What just happenedDec 5, 2020

Became Public Law No: 116-214.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41](D-CA)Sponsor
Read on Congress.gov
1committees23actions4related bills19subjects
  1. Dec 5, 2020President

    Became Public Law No: 116-214.

  2. Dec 5, 2020BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 116-214.

  3. Dec 5, 2020President

    Signed by President.

  4. Dec 5, 2020BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Nov 24, 2020Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Nov 24, 2020President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Nov 12, 2020Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Nov 10, 2020Floor

    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6655)

  9. Nov 10, 2020Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6655)

  10. Sep 24, 2020IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate, read twice.

  11. Sep 23, 2020FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  12. Sep 23, 2020FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4763-4767)

  13. Sep 23, 2020Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4763-4767)

  14. Sep 23, 2020FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8247.

  15. Sep 23, 2020FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4763-4770)

  16. Sep 23, 2020FloorH30300

    Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  17. Sep 17, 2020Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  18. Sep 17, 2020Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  19. Sep 17, 2020Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Health Subcommittee
  20. Sep 15, 2020Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Health Subcommittee
  21. Sep 14, 2020IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  22. Sep 14, 2020IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  23. Sep 14, 2020IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Public LawDec 5, 202049

Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020 or the Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020

This bill implements programs, policies, and reports related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) transition assistance, suicide care, mental health education and treatment, health care, and women veteran care.

(Sec. 101) This section requires the VA to carry out a two-year pilot program on information sharing between the VA and designated persons regarding the assistance and benefits available to veterans.

(Sec. 102) The VA must annually report (for a period of five years) on its Solid Start program, which is an outreach program for those in their first year of separation from the military. The report must exclude any personally identifiable information regarding a veteran.

(Sec. 201) The VA must furnish or pay for emergent suicide care, including transportation costs, at a VA or non-VA facility for certain veterans. The bill requires the VA to ensure certain notification procedures occur in relation to veterans receiving emergent suicide care.

The VA must determine the eligibility of individuals receiving emergent suicide care for other VA programs and benefits. Additionally, the VA must make referrals, as appropriate, for care following the period of emergent suicide care.

(Sec. 202) The VA must establish a four-year education program for the education and training of caregivers and family members of veterans with mental health disorders.

(Sec. 203) This section requires the VA to establish the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans to report on and make recommendations regarding the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for medical treatment and therapy for veterans.

(Sec. 204) The VA must seek to contact covered veterans to encourage them to receive comprehensive physical, mental health, eye, and audiological examinations. A covered veteran is a veteran who is enrolled in the VA health care system and has not received health care furnished or paid for by the VA in the past two years.

Under the bill, if a covered veteran elects to receive more than one of the comprehensive examinations at a VA health care facility, the VA shall seek to furnish all such examinations on the same day. A covered veteran may also receive an examination from another specified health care provider.

The bill provides that the VA may pay for a rural covered veteran to travel to a health care facility to receive a comprehensive examination.

The VA shall seek to enter into agreements with nonprofit organizations to provide shuttle service to rural covered veterans for such examinations.

(Sec. 205) The VA must provide its police officers with annual training on the prevention of suicide among the population it serves. Each police force of a VA facility must develop a plan to enter into partnerships with local community mental health organizations and experts, local community veterans organizations, local community criminal justice organizations and experts, and local police departments.

(Sec. 301) The VA must complete an analysis and report on its programs that provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless or precariously housed to identify the areas in which such programs are failing to meet the needs of such women.

(Sec. 302) The VA must annually report on the use of VA health care by women veterans.

Passed SenateNov 10, 202055

Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020 or the Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020

This bill implements programs, policies, and reports related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) transition assistance, suicide care, mental health education and treatment, health care, and women veteran care.

Among other requirements, the VA must

  • carry out a pilot program on information sharing between the VA and designated persons regarding the assistance and benefits available to veterans;
  • furnish, reimburse, or pay for emergent suicide care, including transportation costs, at a VA or non-VA facility for certain veterans who are in an acute suicidal crisis;
  • establish a program for the education and training of caregivers and family members of veterans with mental health disorders;
  • establish the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans to make recommendations regarding the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for medical treatment and therapy for certain veterans;
  • seek to contact certain veterans who have not recently received care to encourage them to receive comprehensive physical, mental health, eye, and audiological examinations;
  • provide VA police officers with annual training on the prevention of suicide among the population it serves;
  • complete an analysis and report on its programs that provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless or precariously housed to identify the areas in which such programs are failing to meet the needs of such women; and
  • annually report on the use of VA health care by women veterans.
Passed HouseSep 23, 202053

Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020 or the Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020

This bill implements programs, policies, and reports related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) transition assistance, suicide care, mental health education and treatment, health care, and women veteran care.

Among other requirements, the VA must

  • carry out a pilot program on information sharing between the VA and designated persons regarding the assistance and benefits available to veterans;
  • furnish, reimburse, or pay for emergent suicide care, including transportation costs, at a VA or non-VA facility for certain veterans who are in an acute suicidal crisis;
  • establish a program for the education and training of caregivers and family members of veterans with mental health disorders;
  • establish the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans to make recommendations regarding the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for medical treatment and therapy for certain veterans;
  • seek to contact certain veterans who have not recently received care to encourage them to receive comprehensive physical, mental health, eye, and audiological examinations;
  • provide VA police officers with annual training on the prevention of suicide among the population it serves;
  • complete an analysis and report on its programs that provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless or precariously housed to identify the areas in which such programs are failing to meet the needs of such women; and
  • annually report on the use of VA health care by women veterans.
Introduced in HouseSep 14, 2020

Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020 or the Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020

This bill implements programs, policies, and reports related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) transition assistance, suicide care, mental health education and treatment, health care, and women veteran care.

Among other requirements, the VA must

  • carry out a pilot program on information sharing between the VA and designated persons regarding the assistance and benefits available to veterans;
  • furnish or pay for emergent suicide care, including transportation costs, at a VA or non-VA facility for certain veterans who are in an acute suicidal crisis;
  • establish a program for the education and training of caregivers and family members of veterans with mental health disorders;
  • establish the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans to make recommendations regarding the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for medical treatment and therapy for certain veterans;
  • seek to contact certain veterans who have not recently received care to encourage them to receive comprehensive physical, mental health, eye, and audiological examinations;
  • provide VA police officers with annual training on the prevention of suicide among the population it serves;
  • complete an analysis and report on its programs that provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless or precariously housed to identify the areas in which such programs are failing to meet the needs of such women; and
  • annually report on the use of VA health care by women veterans.
Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020 — Informed