January 15, 2025
Mr. LaLota (for himself, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Garbarino, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Tenney, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Kennedy of New York, and Ms. Salinas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to State and local entities to carry out peer-to-peer mental health programs.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act
.
Sec. 2. PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program
(a) In general
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a grant program to be known as the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program
under which the Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities for the purpose of establishing peer-to-peer mental health programs for veterans.
(b) Eligible entity defined
In this section, the term eligible entity means any of the following entities that submit to the Secretary an application containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require:
(1)
A nonprofit organization having historically served veterans’ mental health needs.
(2)
A congressionally chartered veteran service organization.
(3)
A State, local, or Tribal veteran service agency, director, or commissioner.
(c) Amount of grant
The recipient of a grant under this section shall receive a grant in an amount that does not exceed $250,000.
(d) Use of funds
The recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to—
(1)
carry out a program that meets the standards developed under subsection (e);
(2)
hire veterans to serve as peer specialists to host group and individual meetings with veterans seeking nonclinical support;
(3)
provide mental health support to veterans 24 hours each day, seven days each week; and
(4)
hire staff to support the program.
(e) Program standards
(1) Advisory commission
The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee for the purpose of creating appropriate standards applicable to programs established using grants under this section.
(2) Standards
The standards developed under paragraph (1) shall include initial and continued training for veteran peer volunteers, administrative staffing needs, and best practices for addressing the needs of each veteran served.
(f) Nonretention of records
The Secretary may not require the recipient of a grant under this section to maintain records on veterans seeking support or to report any personally identifying information directly or indirectly to the Secretary about such veterans.
(g) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 to carry out this section during the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.