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S. 544 117th Congress Senate

A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate one week each year as "Buddy Check Week" for the purpose of outreach and education concerning peer wellness checks for veterans, and…

Official title: A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate one week each year as "Buddy Check Week" for the purpose of outreach and education concerning p… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate one week each year as "Buddy Check Week" for the purpose of outreach and education concerning peer wellness checks for veterans, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 8, 2021 Introduced by: Joni Ernst Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security Commemorative events and holidaysEmergency medical services and trauma careGovernment information and archivesHealth promotion and preventive care
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Mental healthSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsTelephone and wireless communicationVeterans' medical care
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 8, 2021
Held at the desk.
Oct 8, 2021
Received in the House.
Oct 8, 2021
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Oct 7, 2021
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6993)
Oct 7, 2021
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S6993)
Oct 7, 2021
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6993)
Oct 7, 2021
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6993)
Jun 23, 2021
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.
Mar 2, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 2, 2021
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action October 8, 2021

Held at the desk.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to designate one week each year as Buddy Check Week for the purposes of organizing outreach events and educating veterans on how to conduct peer wellness checks. The VA shall ensure that the Veterans Crisis Line has a plan for handling the potential increase in calls that may occur during such week.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 6411 STRONG Veterans Act of 2022
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 22
All 22 Democratic 11 Republican 9 Independent 1
R
Collins, Susan M.
Maine · Mar 2, 2022
 D
Kelly, Mark
Arizona · Sep 23, 2021
 D
Hickenlooper, John W.
Colorado · Sep 14, 2021
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Jun 21, 2021
 R
Tillis, Thomas
North Carolina · Jun 21, 2021
Sinema, Kyrsten
· Jun 10, 2021
 R
Sullivan, Dan
Alaska · Jun 9, 2021
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Jun 8, 2021
 R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Jun 8, 2021
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Jun 8, 2021
 R
Rounds, Mike
South Dakota · Jun 8, 2021
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Apr 29, 2021
 R
Barrasso, John
Wyoming · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Mar 2, 2021
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Cantwell, Maria
Washington · Mar 2, 2021
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Mar 2, 2021
 R
Cotton, Tom
Arkansas · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Rosen, Jacky
Nevada · Mar 2, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 544: A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate one week each year as "Buddy Check Week" for the purpose of outreach and education concerning peer wellness checks for veterans, and for other purposes.. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-544/
MLA
"S. 544: A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate one week each year as "Buddy Check Week" for the purpose of outreach and education concerning peer wellness checks for veterans, and for other purposes.." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-544/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 544, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-544/.
Markdown link
[S. 544: A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate one week each year as "Buddy Check Week" for the purpose of outreach and education concerning peer wellness checks for veterans, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-544/)
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