119-s2096

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2096 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2096

 To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to make certain 
 improvements in the Transition Assistance Program and Solid Start 
 Program to address mental health issues, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 June 17, 2025

 Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Ms. Ernst, Mr. King, Mr. Merkley, Mr. 
 Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Kaine) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
 Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to make certain 
 improvements in the Transition Assistance Program and Solid Start 
 Program to address mental health issues, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam 
Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE 
 PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE SOLID START 
 PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense.--

Section 1142

    (b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (5) , by inserting ``

    (11) ,'' before ``and

    (16) ''; and

    (2) by striking paragraph

    (11) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (11) Information concerning mental health, including--
 ``
        (A) the availability of mental health services 
 furnished by the Secretary concerned, the Secretary of 
 Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or a non-
 profit entity;
 ``
        (B) the treatment of post-traumatic stress 
 disorder, traumatic brain injury, anxiety disorders, 
 depression, chronic pain, sleep disorders, suicidal 
 ideation, or other mental health conditions associated 
 with service in the Armed Forces;
 ``
            (C) the risk of suicide, including signs, 
 symptoms, and risk factors (including adverse childhood 
 experiences, depression, bipolar disorder, 
 homelessness, unemployment, and relationship strain);
 ``
            (D) the availability of treatment options and 
 resources to address substance abuse, including 
 alcohol, prescription drug, and opioid abuse;
 ``
        (E) the potential effects of the loss of 
 community and support systems experienced by a member 
 separating from the Armed Forces;
 ``
        (F) isolation from family, friends, or society; 
 and
 ``
        (G) the potential stressors associated with 
 separation from the Armed Forces.''.

    (b) Solid Start Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.--

Section 6320

    (b)

    (1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) by redesignating subparagraphs
        (G) and
        (H) as 
 subparagraphs
            (I) and
        (J) , respectively; and

    (2) by inserting after subparagraph
        (F) the following:
 ``
        (G) assisting eligible veterans who elect to enroll in 
 the system of patient enrollment under 

section 1705

    (a) of this 
 title;
 ``
        (H) educating veterans about mental health and counseling 
 services available through the Veterans Health 
 Administration;''.
            (c) Report.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the 
 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the 
 appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
 information and materials developed pursuant to the amendments 
 made by this section.

    (2) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this 
 subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
 means--
        (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
 Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
        (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
 Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
 Representatives.
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