H.R. 9237

Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

Sponsor: Mike Bost

30 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Take Care of America's Veterans Act

This bill addresses veterans’ benefits, health care, counseling, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel, VA infrastructure, and the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP).

The bill modifies various compensation programs for veterans, including by (1) allowing concurrent receipt of disability compensation and military retired pay for certain retirees with a combat-related disability, (2) extending entitlement for various benefits and services to remarried surviving spouses, (3) increasing the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation, and (4) establishing a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans.

The bill also addresses VA education and training benefits, including by (1) modifying which independent study programs are covered under veterans’ educational assistance benefits, (2) requiring Transition Assistance Program counseling to include a presentation about VA benefits, and (3) increasing the housing allowance rate for individuals pursuing apprenticeships.

The bill revises health care provisions, including by (1) expanding support and assistance provided to family caregivers, (2) extending the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, and (3) expanding the scope of VA mental health research.

Among other elements, the bill

  • revises VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus;
  • expands eligibility for a memorial headstone or marker for the spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces;
  • addresses the administration of the VCCP and codifies the eligibility standards;
  • establishes a standardized screening process for priority or routine admission to certain mental health care programs; and
  • addresses VA personnel, hiring, and infrastructure matters.

Text of the bill

Expand all

I Compensation

II Education and Economic Opportunity

III Health Care

IV Organization

V Memorial Affairs

VI Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers

A Improvement of Veterans Community Care Program

B Mental Health Treatment Programs

C Staffing Matters

D Optimization of Workforce

E Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation

Sec. 657. Authority to accept donations of construction services, minor construction or nonrecurring maintenance projects, and targeted contributions

(a) Authority. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may accept donations comprising the total cost or a portion of the cost of—

(1) minor construction projects;

(2) nonrecurring maintenance projects; or

(3) construction services relating—

(A) to minor construction projects;

(B) to nonrecurring maintenance projects;

(C) to an existing facility of the Department; or

(D) to a new facility or portion thereof of the Department.

(b) Alignment to needs. The Secretary may accept a donation under this section only if—

(1) the donation aligns with—

(A) a need identified in a Strategic Capital Investment Planning process priority list, a five-year development plan, a facility master plan, or an annual capital needs inventory of the Department; or

(B) any component or phase of a need described in subparagraph (A);

(2) the donation is from an entity described in section 2(a)(2) of the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note);

(3) the Secretary determines such donation would—

(A) accelerate project completion;

(B) reduce the expense to the Department;

(C) improve facility condition; or

(D) otherwise benefit veterans;

(4) the donor enters into a formal agreement with the Secretary that includes—

(A) provisions for the Department’s oversight during performance;

(B) compliance with applicable construction codes and standards, and applicable laws and regulations;

(C) donor-provided insurance, warranties, and liability protections;

(D) the amount of the donation and the amount of the Department’s funding contribution, if any;

(E) that the donation shall not increase the cost to the Federal Government of completing such project described in subsection (a) (excluding activation and sustainment of such facility); and

(F) such other terms as the Secretary determines necessary.

(c) Streamlined requirements. For donations under this section that do not involve transfer of real property title—

(1) the donor shall enter into an agreement with the Department that determines who is responsible to ensure environmental or historic preservation due diligence is completed;

(2) the donor shall obtain all federally required construction and facility related permits; and

(3) agreements may be simplified relative to those under section 2 of the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note) to reflect the nature of services or targeted contributions.

(d) Reporting. The Secretary shall include information on donations accepted under this section in the reports required under section 2(g) of the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note), with separate tracking for donations under this section.

F Other Health Care Matters