Legis Daily

Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020

USA116th CongressHR-8247| House 
| Updated: 12/5/2020
Mark Takano

Mark Takano

Democratic Representative

California

Health Subcommittee, Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
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.

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Timeline
Sep 14, 2020
Introduced in House
Sep 14, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Sep 15, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Sep 17, 2020
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 17, 2020
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Sep 17, 2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 23, 2020
Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Sep 23, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4763-4770)
Sep 23, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8247.
Sep 23, 2020
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)
Sep 23, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4763-4767)
Sep 23, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 24, 2020
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Nov 10, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6655)
Nov 10, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6655)
Nov 12, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 24, 2020
Presented to President.
Dec 5, 2020
Signed by President.
Dec 5, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-214.
  • September 14, 2020
    Introduced in House


  • September 14, 2020
    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • September 15, 2020
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • September 17, 2020
    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • September 17, 2020
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • September 17, 2020
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • September 23, 2020
    Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • September 23, 2020
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4763-4770)


  • September 23, 2020
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8247.


  • September 23, 2020
    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)


  • September 23, 2020
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4763-4767)


  • September 23, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • September 24, 2020
    Received in the Senate, read twice.


  • November 10, 2020
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6655)


  • November 10, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6655)


  • November 12, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • November 24, 2020
    Presented to President.


  • December 5, 2020
    Signed by President.


  • December 5, 2020
    Became Public Law No: 116-214.

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 116-4154: Leave no Veteran Behind Act
  • S 116-2864: Sergeant Daniel Somers Veterans Network of Support Act of 2019
  • HR 116-7747: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress an annual report on the Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
  • HR 116-5324: Sergeant Daniel Somers Veterans Network of Support Act of 2019
Comprehensive health careCongressional oversightEmergency medical services and trauma careGovernment information and archivesHealth care coverage and accessHealth information and medical recordsHealth promotion and preventive careLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersMedical educationMental healthMilitary personnel and dependentsOutdoor recreationPublic contracts and procurementTransportation programs fundingVeterans' loans, housing, homeless programsVeterans' medical careVeterans' pensions and compensationWomen's employment

Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020

USA116th CongressHR-8247| House 
| Updated: 12/5/2020
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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
5 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Sep 14, 2020
Introduced in House
Sep 14, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Sep 15, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Sep 17, 2020
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 17, 2020
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Sep 17, 2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 23, 2020
Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Sep 23, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4763-4770)
Sep 23, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8247.
Sep 23, 2020
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)
Sep 23, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4763-4767)
Sep 23, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 24, 2020
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Nov 10, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6655)
Nov 10, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6655)
Nov 12, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 24, 2020
Presented to President.
Dec 5, 2020
Signed by President.
Dec 5, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-214.
  • September 14, 2020
    Introduced in House


  • September 14, 2020
    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • September 15, 2020
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • September 17, 2020
    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • September 17, 2020
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • September 17, 2020
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • September 23, 2020
    Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • September 23, 2020
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4763-4770)


  • September 23, 2020
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8247.


  • September 23, 2020
    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)


  • September 23, 2020
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4763-4767)


  • September 23, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • September 24, 2020
    Received in the Senate, read twice.


  • November 10, 2020
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6655)


  • November 10, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6655)


  • November 12, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • November 24, 2020
    Presented to President.


  • December 5, 2020
    Signed by President.


  • December 5, 2020
    Became Public Law No: 116-214.
Mark Takano

Mark Takano

Democratic Representative

California

Health Subcommittee, Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 116-4154: Leave no Veteran Behind Act
  • S 116-2864: Sergeant Daniel Somers Veterans Network of Support Act of 2019
  • HR 116-7747: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress an annual report on the Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
  • HR 116-5324: Sergeant Daniel Somers Veterans Network of Support Act of 2019
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Comprehensive health careCongressional oversightEmergency medical services and trauma careGovernment information and archivesHealth care coverage and accessHealth information and medical recordsHealth promotion and preventive careLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersMedical educationMental healthMilitary personnel and dependentsOutdoor recreationPublic contracts and procurementTransportation programs fundingVeterans' loans, housing, homeless programsVeterans' medical careVeterans' pensions and compensationWomen's employment