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. 327. Access to health care

(a) Connection to Veterans Health Administration when a disability claim related to military sexual trauma is submitted to Veterans Benefits Administration. Section 2 of the MST Claims Coordination Act (Public Law 117–303; 38 U.S.C. 1166 note) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(1)—

(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; and

(B) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(D) the contact information for the nearest military sexual trauma coordinator for the veteran at the Veterans Benefits Administration and a description of the assistance such coordinator can provide;

(E) the contact information for the nearest military sexual trauma coordinator for the veteran at the Veterans Health Administration and a description of the assistance such coordinator can provide;

(F) the types of services that individuals who have experienced military sexual trauma are eligible to receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs, such as mental health counseling from providers trained in military sexual trauma issues and peer support services, including the nearest locations where such services are furnished, including the nearest Readjustment Counseling Service location, and the contact information for the providers of such services; and

(G) such other information on services, care, or resources for military sexual trauma as the Secretary determines appropriate.

; and

(2) in subsection (d)—

(A) in paragraph (3)—

(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(D) submitting a claim for disability compensation to the Veterans Benefits Administration for a disability relating to military sexual trauma.

; and

(B) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:

Text this section adds to the law

(5) The term military sexual trauma with respect to eligibility for health care, has the meaning given such term in section 1166(d)(2) of title 38, United States Code.

(b) Care relating to military sexual trauma for individuals who withdraw from or otherwise do not complete service at service academies

(1) In general. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Transportation, shall ensure that each individual who withdraws from, or otherwise does not complete service at, a service academy is provided—

(A) information on the potential eligibility of such individual for care and counseling relating to military sexual trauma provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs; and

(B) the option to receive copies of—

(i) the individual’s service treatment records or military personnel records that document military sexual trauma;

(ii) reporting forms of the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Department of Transportation on sexual assault or sexual harassment for which the individual was the victim; and

(iii) any investigative reports into military sexual trauma that occurred during the individual’s service in the Armed Forces and for which the individual was the victim, which are in the possession of the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Department of Transportation.

(2) Definitions. In this subsection:

(A) Military sexual trauma. The term military sexual trauma has the meaning given such term in section 1166(d)(2) of title 38, United States Code.—

(B) Service academy. The term service academy means any of the following:

(i) The United States Military Academy.

(ii) The United States Naval Academy.

(iii) The United States Air Force Academy.

(iv) The United States Coast Guard Academy.

(v) The United States Merchant Marine Academy.

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