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

Sec. 208. Elimination of requirement that on-campus educational and vocational counseling is provided by certain Department of Veterans Affairs employees

(a) In general. Section 3697B(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking the second sentence;

(2) by inserting (1) before The Secretary; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

Text this section adds to the law

(2) Any individual providing services under paragraph (1) on behalf of the Department who is not an employee of the Department shall be subject to the same oversight, training, and accountability standards applicable to Department employees providing such services.

(b) Expansion of VetSuccess on Campus program to at least one location in each State

(1) In general. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the VetSuccess on Campus program of the Department of Veterans Affairs is located in every State.

(2) Counselors. In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that at least one counselor of the VetSuccess on Campus program is located in each State, notwithstanding the number of individuals in a State or at an educational institution who may qualify to participate in the program.

(3) Preference. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall give preference to educational institutions that have the largest populations of students who are pursuing programs of education at such institutions with educational assistance provided under laws administered by the Secretary.

(4) State defined. In this section, the term State has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

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