H.R. 8819 · 116th Congress
Solid Start Act of 2020
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 116th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
D
SlotkinSponsor2 cosponsors · 2 R
1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill permanently authorizes and expands the Solid Start program, which is an outreach program for veterans in their first year of separation from the military.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Nov 24, 2020
Solid Start Act of 2020
This bill permanently authorizes and expands the Solid Start program, which is an outreach program for veterans in their first year of separation from the military.
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to coordinate with the Department of Defense to
- collect updated contact information during transition classes or separation counseling for members of the Armed Forces who are separating from service,
- explain the existence and purpose of the program,
- call veterans at least twice within the first year of separation,
- publish information about the program in booklets and on the VA website,
- provide information about veterans' eligibility for VA programs and benefits, and
- prioritize outreach to veterans who have accessed mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed Forces.
Under the bill, the VA is authorized to (1) encourage members of the Armed Forces to provide additional contact information if they are unreachable following their separation, (2) follow up on missed phone calls, and (3) reach out to veterans who separated prior to the initiation of the Solid Start program.
The Government Accountability Office must assess and report on the Solid Start program.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Solid Start Act of 2020
Latest action (Nov 24, 2020): Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security · Origin: House · Introduced: Nov 24, 2020
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.