H.R. 9237

Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

Sponsor: Mike Bost

30 cosponsors
Follow this bill

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. 325. Pilot program on provision of opioid rescue medications to veterans

(a) In general. Commencing not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a one-year pilot program under which the Secretary shall make covered medications available to any veteran at no charge (in this section referred to as the pilot program).

(b) Provision of medication prior to confirmation of status. The Secretary may provide covered medication to an individual under the pilot program prior to confirming the status of the individual as a veteran if the individual provides contact information for the individual and a written self-attestation of veteran status.

(c) Site selection. The Secretary shall prioritize carrying out the pilot program in geographical areas where data indicates a disproportionately high risk of overdose among the veteran population.

(d) Limitation on use of information

(1) In general. In carrying out this section, the Secretary may only collect the personally identifiable information needed for prescribing covered medication under the pilot program, and any personally identifiable information collected under this section may be used solely for the purpose of delivering, evaluating, and enhancing the quality of health care.

(2) Exclusion. The Secretary may not use any personally identifiable information collected under this section—

(A) for the purpose of preventing a veteran from employment;

(B) as evidence of a history of drug use; or

(C) as evidence that an individual is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance.

(e) Provision of information. The Secretary shall ensure that any individual who receives covered medication under the pilot program also receives—

(1) information about addiction services, suicide prevention services, mental health services, and other related services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and

(2) information on the use and application of covered medications.

(f) Report

(1) In general. Not later than 30 days before the completion of the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program.

(2) Elements. The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) The number of veterans who received a covered medication under the pilot program, disaggregated by those enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, and those not enrolled in such system.

(B) An assessment of the feasibility of expanding the pilot program to provide covered medications to immediate family members of veterans.

(C) Any considerations associated with continuing, expanding, or making permanent the pilot program.

(D) Any other recommendations of the Secretary with respect to modifying or continuing the pilot program.

(g) Definitions. In this section:

(1) Covered medication. The term covered medication means any opioid overdose rescue medication, such as naloxone.

(2) Veteran. The term veteran has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

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