H.R. 1575, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed Forces

H.R. 1575 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a permanent program that provides counseling in group retreat settings to certain women veterans who have recently separated from military service. The bill also would require the VA to submit a biennial report on the outcomes of the program.

VA is completing the final year of a pilot program that provides similar services to women veterans. According to VA, roughly 130 women participated in the program at six retreats over a two-year period, and three more retreats are planned for 2015. VA reported annual spending for the pilot program of roughly $66,000 for each retreat. Based on information from VA on their intent to use the authority provided under H.R. 1575 to hold six retreats a year, CBO estimates that implementing this program would cost $3 million over the 2016-2020 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts.

Enacting H.R. 1575 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

H.R. 1575 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.