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

Sec. 101. Major Richard Star Act

(a) Concurrent receipt generally. Section 1414(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following new paragraphs:

Text this section adds to the law

(2) Combat-related disability retirees

(A) In general. A member retired under chapter 61 of this title with a combat-related disability who is entitled for any month to retired pay under chapter 61 of this title and is also entitled for that month to veterans’ disability compensation under title 38, is entitled to be paid both without regard to sections 5304 and 5305 of title 38, as provided by subparagraphs (B) and (C).

(B) Career retirees. In the case of a member retired under chapter 61 of this title who has a combat-related disability that is not a qualifying service-connected disability (as defined in subsection (a)(2)) and who, at the time of the member's retirement, had 20 years or more of service otherwise creditable under section 1405 of this title or at least 20 years of service computed under section 12732 of this title, the member may receive, without regard to sections 5304 and 5305 of title 38, both—

(i) the amount of retired pay to which the member would have been entitled under any other provision of law based on the member’s service in the uniformed services if the member had not been retired under chapter 61 of this title; and

(ii) veterans’ disability compensation under title 38.

(C) Disability retirees with less than 20 years of service. In the case of a member retired under chapter 61 of this title with a combat-related disability and who, at the time of the member's retirement, had less than 20 years of service otherwise creditable under section 1405 of this title or less than 20 years of service computed under section 12732 of this title, the member may receive, without regard to sections 5304 and 5305 of title 38, the lesser of—

(i) both—

(I) the retired pay for which the member is eligible under chapter 61 of this title; and

(II) veterans’ disability compensation under title 38; or

(ii) both—

(I) an amount equal to the product of the retired pay base computed under section 1406(b) or 1407 of this title and the retired pay multiplier determined under section 1409 of this title, as such base pay and multiplier would be computed if the member had 20 years of service creditable under section 1405 of this title; and

(II) veterans’ disability compensation under title 38.

(D) Combat-related disability defined. In this paragraph, the term combat-related disability has the meaning given that term in subsection (e) of section 1413a of this title and as determined under the criteria and procedures used for purposes of such section.

(3) Exclusion of other retirees. Subsection (a) does not apply to a member retired under chapter 61 of this title if the member is not covered by paragraph (1) or (2).

(b) Technical and conforming amendments

(1) Coordination with combat-related special compensation program. Section 1414(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking qualified retiree under this section and inserting qualified retiree under subsection (a) or is entitled to a payment under subsection (b)(2).

(2) Amendments reflecting end of concurrent receipt phase-in period. Section 1414 of title 10, United States Code, is further amended—

(A) in subsection (a)(1)—

(i) by striking the second sentence; and

(ii) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B);

(B) by striking subsection (c) and redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively; and

(C) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by striking paragraphs (3) and (4).

(3) Section heading. The heading of section 1414 of such title is amended to read as follows:

Text this section adds to the law

1414. Members eligible for retired pay who are also eligible for veterans’ disability compensation: concurrent receipt

(4) Conforming amendment. Section 1413a(f) of such title is amended by striking Subsection (d) and inserting Subsection (c).

(c) Effective date. The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2027, and shall apply to payments for months beginning on or after that date.

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

F Other Health Care Matters