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. 320. Fisher House availability

Section 1708 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by striking in connection with and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting in accordance with this section.;

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (2)—

(i) by inserting described in paragraph (1) after family of a veteran; and

(ii) by inserting such after accompany; and

(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

Text this section adds to the law

(3) On a space-available basis, a covered beneficiary who must travel a significant distance to receive care or services at a Department or non-Department facility.

(4) On a space-available basis, a member of the family of a covered beneficiary described in paragraph (3) and others who accompany such a covered beneficiary who is receiving care or services and provide the equivalent of familial support for such beneficiary when the covered beneficiary or the family member is traveling to receive care or services at a Department or non-Department facility.

(5) On a space-available basis, a veteran and a member of the family of a veteran and others who must travel a significant distance for a member of the veteran’s family to receive care or services at a Department or non-Department facility.

(6) On a space available basis, a covered beneficiary and a member of the family of a covered beneficiary and others who must travel a significant distance for a member of the covered beneficiary’s family to receive care or services at a Department or non-Department facility.

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

(4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated—

(A) in paragraph (2), by striking subsection (d) and inserting subsection (c);

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking under subsection (b)(2) and inserting or a covered beneficiary under subsection (b);

(C) in paragraph (4), by striking and after the semicolon;

(D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and

(E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph (5):

Text this section adds to the law

(5) establishing criteria for providing access to temporary lodging facilities on a space-available basis under paragraphs (3) through (6) of subsection (b); and

; and

(5) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

Text this section adds to the law

(e) In this section:

(1) The term covered beneficiary means a member of the uniformed services, including members of the armed services regardless of duty status.

(2) The term Fisher house means a housing facility that—

(A) is located at, or in proximity to, a Department medical facility;

(B) is available for residential use on a temporary basis by patients of that facility and others described in subsection (b); and

(C) is constructed by, and donated to the Secretary by, the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Armed Services Foundation or the Fisher House Foundation, Inc.

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