Helping Heroes Act
Helping Heroes Act
Plain Language Summary
# Helping Heroes Act Summary **What It Would Do** The Helping Heroes Act would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a new "Veteran Family Resource Program" aimed at supporting the health and wellness of veterans' families. The bill would establish family coordinator positions at VA regional health care centers to serve as a point person connecting veterans, their families, and caregivers with available VA and community resources and services. The VA would need to ensure these coordinators have adequate staffing and resources to perform their duties, and could expand the program to additional medical centers as needed. **Who It Affects** This bill would primarily affect veterans and their families, as well as survivors and caregivers of veterans.
It would also impact the VA, which would need to hire and manage these new family coordinator positions. **Current Status** The bill (S. 701) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. The bill addresses topics including veterans' medical care, mental health services, family services, and government personnel management.
CRS Official Summary
Helping Heroes ActThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the Veteran Family Resource Program to address social determinants of health challenges experienced in veterans’ family units and ensure veterans and their families have access to services and resources to support wellness within the family units.In implementing the program, the VA must (1) appoint at least one family coordinator in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (regional VA health care administrative areas), and (2) ensure adequate staffing and resources to ensure family coordinators are able to carry out their duties and functions. Under the bill, a family coordinator’s function is generally to serve at a VA medical center as a point person regarding VA and community resources for veterans, their families, and caregivers and survivors of veterans.The VA may expand the program to additional medical centers as appropriate.Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this bill, and not less frequently than once every five years after, the VA must survey disabled veterans and their families to identify and better understand their needs.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.