HR 3027119th CongressIn Committee

Green Star Families Act

Introduced: Apr 24, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Green Star Families Act would create a new, no-cost counseling program through the Department of Veterans Affairs for the survivors most closely connected to veterans who die by suicide. Specifically, it provides counseling to the veteran’s next of kin and to former volunteer caregivers who assisted the veteran before death. The VA could partner with federal, state, or private entities to deliver these services, as long as they are accessible and at least as good as existing VA counseling offerings. The bill also requires VA to publicly advertise the program and to define who is eligible, including how “next of kin” is prioritized. The program must be implemented within 90 days of enactment.

Key Points

1Establishes Sec. 1720M in title 38 to create a counseling program for the next of kin and former volunteer caregivers of veterans who die by suicide, at no cost to recipients.
2Eligibility and delivery: Counseling may be provided only if reasonably accessible and at least as good as similar VA services; VA may contract with federal, state, or private entities and provide fair compensation.
3Public awareness: VA must publish information about the program on its website and share details with eligible individuals.
4Definitions: clarifies terms for the program, including who counts as a “former volunteer caregiver,” who is “next of kin” (priority: spouse, then child, parent, sibling, or another determined by VA), and what constitutes “personal care services.”
5Implementation deadline: VA must implement the new Sec. 1720M within 90 days after enactment.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Next of kin of veterans who die by suicide and former volunteer caregivers who provided non-compensated personal care services to the veteran for at least three months.Secondary group/area affected: Veterans Service Organizations (VSO)-affiliated volunteers and organizations that may serve as providers or partners under the program; beneficiaries may include individuals connected to covered VSOs.Additional impacts: Could involve VA budgeting and contracting practices to fund and manage the counseling services; increased access to mental health and supportive services for survivors; potential alignment with broader VA suicide prevention and survivor support efforts.

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