U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) on April 22 introduced a bipartisan bill that would improve and expand the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Solid Start program, which provides outgoing service members with outreach within one year of their separation from the military about VA benefits and programs.
“Our nation’s heroes shouldn’t struggle to understand or access mental health care, education benefits, suicide prevention resources or any other service in the year following their discharge, separation or retirement,” Rep. Joyce said. “But the reality is that navigating the wide range of benefits and programs designed for veterans is so complicated that many are unaware that they might qualify for them or that these services even exist at all.”
Rep. Joyce cosponsored the Solid Start Act of 2021, H.R. 2819, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-M) to make permanent the Solid Start Program, a trial VA program that contacts every new veteran three times in their first year after exiting the service to help them navigate their transition, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Joyce’s office.
“As the son of a World War II veteran, I refuse to allow the brave men and women who have served our country to slip through the cracks,” said Rep. Joyce.
The Solid Start Program, which was launched by the VA in 2019, also prioritizes outreach to veterans who accessed mental health resources prior to leaving military service in order to best serve at-risk veterans, according to the summary, which noted that the VA in December 2020 announced that the program had successfully connected with nearly 70,000 newly separated service members.
If enacted, H.R. 2819 also would authorize funding to support the program and implement improvements by requiring the Government Accountability Office to assess the program’s effectiveness, the summary says.
The measure has been referred to the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for consideration.