[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9819 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9819

   To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to establish a program to furnish to certain veterans 
 items used for the secure storage of firearms, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 25, 2024

Mr. Deluzio (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Landsman) introduced 
 the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to establish a program to furnish to certain veterans 
 items used for the secure storage of firearms, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO FURNISH TO 
              VETERANS ITEMS USED FOR SECURE STORAGE OF FIREARMS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1720K. Program to furnish to eligible veterans items intended to 
              be used for the secure storage of firearms
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to 
provide to an eligible veteran, upon the request of such eligible 
veteran--
            ``(1) a covered item; and
            ``(2) information relating to the benefits of, and options 
        for, secure firearm storage.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `covered item' means a lock box that--
                    ``(A) is used for the secure storage of a firearm;
                    ``(B) is designed and marketed to deny unauthorized 
                access to, or render inoperable, a firearm or 
                ammunition;
                    ``(C) may be unlocked only by means of a key, 
                combination, or other similar means;
                    ``(D) is in compliance with the applicable standard 
                of American Society for Testing Materials;
                    ``(E) is manufactured in the United States; and
                    ``(F) is not eligible or intended for commercial or 
                individual resale.
            ``(2) The term `eligible veteran' means--
                    ``(A) a veteran (as defined in section 101 of this 
                title); and
                    ``(B) an individual described in section 1720I(b) 
                of this title.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 
1720J the following new item:

        ``1720K. Program to furnish to eligible veterans items intended 
                            to be used for the secure storage of 
                            firearms.''.
    (c) Education and Training.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall--
            (1) in consultation with representatives of organizations 
        and agencies that are subject to a memorandum of understanding 
        with the Secretary on preventing veteran suicide and other such 
        entities as the Secretary determines appropriate--
                    (A) develop an informational video on secure 
                storage of firearms as a suicide prevention strategy; 
                and
                    (B) publish such informational video on an internet 
                website of the Department; and
            (2) publish information to inform individuals who 
        participate in the program under section 1720K of title 38, 
        United States Code (as added by subsection (a)) that any 
        lockbox furnished pursuant to such program is not eligible or 
        intended for commercial or individual resale.
    (d) Public Education Campaign.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall design and carry out a public education campaign to educate 
veterans eligible for covered items under the program established under 
section 1720K of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection 
(a)), to inform such veterans of the availability of such covered 
items.
    (e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act, or the amendments 
made by this Act, may be construed to--
            (1) collect personally identifiable information of an 
        individual who participates in the program under section 1720K 
        of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)) 
        for the purposes of tracking firearm ownership;
            (2) require any such individual to register a firearm with 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs;
            (3) require mandatory firearm storage for any such 
        individual;
            (4) prohibit any such individual from purchasing, owning, 
        or possessing a firearm under section 922 of title 18, United 
        States Code;
            (5) discourage the lawful ownership of firearms; or
            (6) create or maintain a list of individuals participating 
        in such program.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to the 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $5,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2025 through 2035 to carry out this section.
                                 <all>