Improvements to outreach services provided by Secretary of Veterans Affairs to individuals who served in the uniformed services and dependents of such individuals

(a) Short title This section may be cited as the Survivor Solid Start Act of 2025. (b) Expansion of outreach services Subchapter I of chapter 63 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 6301(b)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively; (B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following new paragraph: (1) the term covered individual means— (A) a veteran; or (B) an individual who served in the uniformed services (as defined in section 1965(6) of this title);; (C) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by striking veterans each place it appears and inserting covered individuals; and (D) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service and inserting a covered individual; (2) in section 6302(b), by striking eligible veterans each place it appears and inserting covered individuals; (3) in section 6303— (A) in subsection (a), by striking eligible veterans and inserting covered individuals; (B) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking eligible veterans and inserting covered individuals; (C) in subsection (c)(2), by striking veteran or dependent each place it appears and inserting covered individual or eligible dependent; and (D) in subsection (d), by striking veterans and inserting covered individuals; (4) in section 6306— (A) in subsection (a), by striking eligible veteran and inserting covered individual; and (B) in subsection (b)— (i) by striking opportunities for veterans and inserting opportunities for covered individuals; and (ii) by striking eligible veterans and inserting covered individuals; and (5) in section 6308, by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) Outreach services for surviving eligible dependents (1) (A) Upon receipt of notification of the death of a covered individual, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Benefits, shall provide outreach services, by mail, email, and telephone, to each eligible dependent of such individual not less than once each quarter calendar year until the eligible dependent files a claim for a benefit under laws administered by the Secretary. (B) In the case of an eligible dependent described in subparagraph (A) who is a minor child, the Secretary shall provide such outreach services to the legal guardian of the eligible dependent. (C) If the Secretary does not have the contact information of an eligible dependent or legal guardian described in subparagraph (A) or (B), the Secretary shall make reasonable efforts to obtain such contact information to carry out this subsection. (D) An eligible dependent or legal guardian described in subparagraph (A) or (B) may elect to not receive, or to receive fewer, outreach services under this subsection. Not less than once each calendar year, the Secretary shall notify each such eligible dependent or legal guardian of the option to make such an election. (2) Outreach services under this subsection shall provide an eligible dependent with information including the following: (A) Contact information for the Office of Survivors Assistance established under section 321 of this title. (B) Information regarding assistance in filing a claim for a benefit under laws administered by the Secretary furnished by— (i) a veterans service organization recognized under section 5902 of this title; or (ii) an attorney, agent, or other entity recognized under section 5904 of this title. (C) How to find an entity— (i) described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (B); and (ii) located near the residence of the eligible dependent. (3) In developing and revising materials used in outreach services under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with entities including the following: (A) Veterans service organizations recognized under section 5902 of this title. (B) The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans established under section 542 of this title. (C) The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans established under section 544 of this title. (D) The Veterans’ Family, Caregiver, and Survivor Advisory Committee of the Department, or successor advisory committee.. (c) Personnel The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish at least 5, but not more than 10, full-time equivalent positions at call centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out subsection (c) of section 6308 of such title, as added by subsection (b).