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

Sec. 307. Reports on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy

(a) GAO report on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives an update to the report titled Research on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to Treat Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (GAO-16-154). Such report shall include the assessment of the Comptroller General of clinical trials conducted, since the publication of such report—

(1) regarding the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder; and

(2) by—

(A) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;

(B) the Secretary of Defense; and

(C) private entities.

(b) Follow-up study

(1) In general. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a systematic review of published research literature on the off-label use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury among veterans and nonveterans.

(2) Elements. The review conducted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) An analysis of available research literature published after the review completed pursuant to section 702 of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act (Public Law 116–171);

(B) An assessment of the current parameters for research on the use by the Department of Veterans Affairs of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, including—

(i) tests and questionnaires used to determine the efficacy of such therapy; and

(ii) metrics for determining the success of such therapy.

(C) A comparative analysis of tests and questionnaires used to study post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury in other research conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs, other Federal agencies, and entities outside the Federal Government.

(D) A market assessment of available hyperbaric oxygen therapy facilities or units within facilities to assess the most effective locations and practices, including—

(i) an analysis of whether multi-person chambers could reduce per-veteran costs;

(ii) an analysis of areas with lower prices compared to a national average; and

(iii) an identification of not fewer than two VISNs in which the provision or furnishing of hyperbaric oxygen therapy would benefit the most number of veterans at the lowest cost to the Department.

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