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. 663. Improving prevention, detection, and reporting of waste, fraud, and abuse in Department of Veterans Affairs capital asset projects and activities

(a) Report required. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on actions the Department of Veterans Affairs is taking or plans to take to enhance the ability of the Department to prevent, detect, and report waste, fraud, and abuse occurring in capital asset projects of the Department, whether by employees, contractors, or other relevant persons or entities involved with the Department.

(b) Elements. The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) An assessment of whether new training or enhancements to existing training should be undertaken to improve the prevention, detection, and reporting of waste, fraud, and abuse.

(2) Recommendations for such legislative and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate to improve the prevention, detection, and reporting of waste, fraud, and abuse.

(3) Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(c) Consultation. In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary—

(1) shall consult with the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Comptroller General of the United States on matters relating to best practices and strategies to improve detection and prevention by the Department of waste, fraud, and abuse in capital asset projects and management; and

(2) may consult with such other persons and entities on such matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.

F Other Health Care Matters