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. 311. Establishment of the Blast Overpressure Task Force of the Department of Veterans Affairs

(a) Establishment. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall appoint, through the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee under section 320 of title 38, United States Code, the Blast Overpressure Task Force of the Department of Veterans Affairs (in this section referred to as the Task Force).

(b) Membership. Each member of the Task Force appointed under subsection (a) shall be a member of the Health Executive Committee under subsection (b)(2) of such section who, at the time of appointment, is involved in research regarding the mitigation and treatment of blast overpressure or blast exposure.

(c) Duties. The duties of the Task Force are the following:

(1) To improve how the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, provides health care and other benefits to veterans or members of the Armed Forces diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other symptoms, from blast overpressure or blast exposure.

(2) To align research agendas and acquisition strategies of the Department regarding such health care.

(3) To establish physiological and cognitive performance baselines for such veterans and members.

(4) To prioritize translational research regarding such veterans and members, including research regarding—

(A) sleep therapy;

(B) blast-related gut health;

(C) mobile diagnostics;

(D) vestibular dysfunction and balance impairment;

(E) autonomic nervous system dysregulation;

(F) cumulative mild traumatic brain injury;

(G) neuroinflammation and glial activation; and

(H) any other issue determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(5) To monitor sensory decline (including with regards to vision, hearing, and vestibular function) and stress-related impairments among such veterans and members.

(6) To support continuity of such care by integrating mobile and longitudinal diagnostic tools.

(d) Reports. The Task Force shall issue annual reports to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives. Each such report shall include the following elements:

(1) Details of research initiatives, coordination outcomes, and clinical advancements of the Task Force.

(2) Recommendations of the Task Force regarding—

(A) how claims processors of the Department of Veterans Affairs should evaluate evidence that links such conditions to active military, naval, air, or space service; and

(B) best practices regarding the evaluation of neurological injuries in examinations for benefits under chapters 11 or 15 of title 38, United States Code.

(e) Sunset. The Task Force shall terminate on September 30, 2029.

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