PROGRAMS ON ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.

SEC. 5107. PROGRAMS ON ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS. (a) Assistance for Child Care for Certain Veterans Receiving Health Care.— (1) In general.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “SEC. 1709C. [38 U.S.C. 1709C] Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care “(a) Program Required.—The Secretary shall carry out a program to provide, subject to subsection (b), assistance to qualified veterans described in subsection (c) to obtain child care so that such veterans can receive health care services described in subsection (c)(2). “(b) Limitation on Period of Payments.—Assistance may be provided to a qualified veteran under this section for receipt of child care only during the period that the qualified veteran— “(1) receives the types of health care services described in subsection (c)(2) at a facility of the Department; and “(2) requires travel to and return from such facility for the receipt of such health care services. “(c) Qualified Veterans.—For purposes of this section, a qualified veteran is a veteran who— “(1) is the primary caretaker of a child or children; and “(2)(A) receives from the Department— “(i) regular mental health care services; “(ii) intensive mental health care services; or “(iii) such other intensive health care services that the Secretary determines that provision of assistance to the veteran to obtain child care would improve access to such health care services by the veteran; or “(B) is in need of regular or intensive mental health care services from the Department, and but for lack of child care services, would receive such health care services from the Department. “(d) Locations.—Not later than five years after the date of the enactment of the Deborah Sampson Act of 2020, the Secretary shall carry out the program at each medical center of the Department. “(e) Forms of Child Care Assistance.—(1) Child care assistance under this section may include the following: “(A) Stipends for the payment of child care offered by a licensed child care center (either directly or through a voucher program) that shall be, to the extent practicable, modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy Program established pursuant to section 630 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107-67; 115 Stat. 552). “(B) Direct provision of child care at an on-site facility of the Department. “(C) Payments to private child care agencies. “(D) Collaboration with facilities or programs of other Federal agencies. “(E) Such other forms of assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate. “(2) In providing child care assistance under this section, the child care needs of the local area shall be considered and the head of each medical center may select the type of care that is most appropriate or feasible for such medical center. “(3) In the case that child care assistance under this section is provided as a stipend under paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child care.” . (2) Conforming amendment.—Section 205(e) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking “September 30, 2020” and inserting “the date of the enactment of the Deborah Sampson Act of 2020”. (3) [38 U.S.C. 1701] Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1709B the following new item: “1709C. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care,” . (b) [38 U.S.C. 1712A note] Pilot Program on Assistance for Child Care for Certain Veterans Receiving Readjustment Counseling and Related Mental Health Services.— (1) In general.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing, subject to paragraph (2), assistance to qualified veterans described in paragraph (3) to obtain child care so that such veterans can receive readjustment counseling and related mental health services. (2) Limitation on period of payments.—Assistance may be provided to a qualified veteran under the pilot program for receipt of child care only during the period that the qualified veteran receives readjustment counseling and related health care services at a Vet Center. (3) Qualified veterans.—For purposes of this subsection, a qualified veteran is a veteran who— (A) is the primary caretaker of a child or children; and (B)(i) receives from the Department regular readjustment counseling and related mental health services; or (ii) is in need of regular readjustment counseling and related mental health services from the Department, and but for lack of child care services, would receive such counseling and services from the Department. (4) Locations.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program in not fewer than three Readjustment Counseling Service Regions selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program. (5) Forms of child care assistance.— (A) In general.—Child care assistance under the pilot program may include the following: (i) Stipends for the payment of child care offered by a licensed child care center (either directly or through a voucher program) that shall be, to the extent practicable, modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy Program established pursuant to section 630 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107-67; 115 Stat. 552). (ii) Payments to private child care agencies. (iii) Collaboration with facilities or programs of other Federal agencies. (iv) Such other forms of assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate. (B) Local area.—In providing child care assistance under the pilot program, the child care needs of the local area shall be considered and the head of each Vet Center may select the type of care that is most appropriate or feasible for such Vet Center. (C) Use of stipend.—In the case that child care assistance under the pilot program is provided as a stipend under subparagraph (A)(i), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child care. (6) Duration.—The pilot program shall be carried out during the two-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program. (7) Report.— (A) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program. (B) Elements.—The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the findings and conclusions of the Secretary regarding the pilot program, and shall include such recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the pilot program as the Secretary considers appropriate. (8) Vet center defined.—In this subsection, the term “Vet Center” has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of title 38, United States Code.