text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Benefits Network Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS GRANTS FOR ESTABLISHING 
                COORDINATED NETWORKS OF SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR 
                VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
  
      (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 38, United 
  States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
  ``Sec. 533. Grants for establishing coordinated networks of services 
                and resources for veterans and their families
      ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may make a grant to an eligible 
  entity for the purpose of establishing or expanding a regional 
  technology system to provide an active database and enrollment system 
  that can be used by a coordinated network of private, public, and non-
  profit entities to assist veterans and their family members in applying 
  for benefits and services offered by such entities that participate in 
  the network.
      ``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
  this section, an entity shall--
              ``(1) be a State or local government, a regional council of 
          governments, or a private entity; and
              ``(2) submit to the Secretary an application containing--
                      ``(A) a description of the credentialing system the 
                  entity intends to use to determine which service 
                  providers will be eligible for inclusion in the network 
                  established using the grant that ensures such providers 
                  meet the requirements under subsection (c)(3); and
                      ``(B) such other information and assurances as the 
                  Secretary may require.
      ``(c) Use of Funds.--
              ``(1) In general.--The recipient of a grant under this 
          section shall use the grant to establish a coordinated network 
          of private, public, and nonprofit services and resources, as 
          described in paragraph (2), for veterans and their families 
          designed to--
                      ``(A) facilitate awareness and understanding of 
                  benefits that are available to members of the Armed 
                  Forces, veterans, and their family members who are 
                  eligible for benefits;
                      ``(B) use best practices to maximize outreach to 
                  veterans and family members who are eligible for 
                  benefits; and
                      ``(C) have the capacity to be replicated at other 
                  locations or regional networks.
              ``(2) Services and resources.--The services and resources 
          included in the networks established using grants under this 
          section may include--
                      ``(A) education;
                      ``(B) employment;
                      ``(C) family support and recreation;
                      ``(D) health care;
                      ``(E) mental health and behavioral counseling;
                      ``(F) substance abuse counseling;
                      ``(G) housing;
                      ``(H) financial assistance;
                      ``(I) legal assistance;
                      ``(J) public benefit support;
                      ``(K) benefits under the laws administered by the 
                  Secretary; and
                      ``(L) such other services and resources as the 
                  Secretary determines appropriate.
              ``(3) Criteria for service providers.--In order to be 
          eligible for inclusion in a network established using a grant 
          under this section, a service provider shall--
                      ``(A) demonstrate the capacity, experience, and 
                  expertise required to participate in the network; and
                      ``(B) enter into an agreement with the entity that 
                  receives the grant that ensures that the provider will 
                  not--
                              ``(i) input the personal information of a 
                          veteran or veteran's family member into the 
                          coordinated network without receiving the 
                          informed consent and authorization of the 
                          veteran or family member; or
                              ``(ii) use such personal information in any 
                          manner or for any purpose other than the 
                          performance of the services in compliance with 
                          the coordinated network.
      ``(d) Priority in Awarding Grants.--In awarding grants under this 
  section, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that 
  provides services to individuals residing in a geographic area where a 
  large number of veterans and members of the Armed Forces reside, as 
  determined by the Secretary.
      ``(e) Deadline for Use of Funds.--The Secretary shall provide, as a 
  condition of awarding a grant under this section to an eligible entity, 
  that the eligible entity must use the grant before the expiration of 
  the two-year period that begins on the date on which the eligible 
  entity receives the grant. If a grant recipient has not used the grant 
  before the expiration of such period, the Secretary may recover from 
  the eligible entity the unused amount of the grant funds.
      ``(f) Cost-Sharing.--As a condition on the provision of funds under 
  this section to an eligible entity, the eligible entity must agree to 
  contribute an amount, derived from non-Federal sources, equal to at 
  least 50 percent of the funds provided by the Secretary of Veterans 
  Affairs to the eligible entity under this section.
      ``(g) Availability of Funds.--The Secretary shall use amounts 
  otherwise made available for the Veterans Benefits Administration to 
  make grants under this section.
      ``(h) Outreach.--The Secretary shall use the authority of the 
  Secretary to advertise in the national media under section 532 of this 
  title to inform veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and their 
  families about the networks established using grants under this 
  section.
      ``(i) Report to Congress.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress 
  an annual report on the administration of the grant program under this 
  section. Each such report shall include a description of how grant 
  recipients used funds awarded under this section.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
  such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
  532 the following new item:
  
  ``533. Grants for establishing coordinated networks of services and 
                              resources for veterans and their 
                              families.''.
target: Veterans Benefits Network Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to make a grant to an eligible entity to establish or expand a regional technology system to provide an active database and enrollment system that can be used by a network of private, public, and non-profit entities to assist veterans and their family members in applying for benefits and services offered by such entities.
feat_title: Veterans Benefits Network Act