# 117-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.

117-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., is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] (R-IA); status Held at the desk. (as of 2026-10-15).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-544
- As of: 2026-10-15
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-s-544
- Congress: 117
- 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.
- Status: Held at the desk.
- Introduced: 2021-03-02
- Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] (R-IA)
- Cosponsors: 23
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-15

## Summary

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.

## Cosponsors (23)

- Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] (D-NH), 2021-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2021-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] (D-WA), 2021-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2021-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2021-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV), 2021-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (R-AR), 2021-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-TN), 2021-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] (R-WY), 2021-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2021-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2021-04-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] (R-ND), 2021-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2021-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (R-SD), 2021-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2021-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK), 2021-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ-9] (D-AZ), 2021-06-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC), 2021-06-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (D-WA), 2021-06-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2021-09-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2021-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV] (D-WV), 2021-11-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME] (R-ME), 2022-03-02T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-sres-748: A resolution honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Jackie Walorski.
- 117-sres-621: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the late Senator Orrin G. Hatch.
- 117-sres-593: A resolution relating to the death of Kaneaster Hodges, Jr., former United States Senator for the State of Arkansas.
- 117-sres-565: A resolution honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Don Young.
- 117-sres-485: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Harry Mason Reid, Jr., former Senator for the State of Nevada.
- 117-sres-484: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of late Senator John "Johnny" Hardy Isakson.

## Sources
- [117-s-544 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/544)

## Related
- [117-sres-748: A resolution honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Jac…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-748)
- [117-sres-621: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the late Senator Orrin G. Hatch.](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-621)
- [117-sres-593: A resolution relating to the death of Kaneaster Hodges, Jr., former United Stat…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-593)
- [117-sres-565: A resolution honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Don…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-565)
- [117-sres-485: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Harry Mason Reid, Jr., form…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-485)
- [117-sres-484: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of late Senator John "Johnny" Hardy I…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-484)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-544 (as of 2026-10-15).