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

IV Organization

V Memorial Affairs

VI Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers

A Improvement of Veterans Community Care Program

Sec. 607. Information on wait time and drive time options for receipt of care by veterans

(a) In general. To the greatest extent practicable, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that veterans are informed in writing, for each episode of care provided under the laws administered by the Secretary, of current wait time and average drive time options for such episode of care disaggregated by care provided—

(1) in person at a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs;

(2) via telehealth through a provider of the Department.

(3) in person through the nearest suitable non-Department facility with which the Department has a provider agreement or other arrangement for non-Department care pursuant to section 1703 of title 38, United States Code; and

(4) via telehealth through a non-Department provider with which the Department has a provider agreement or other arrangement for non-Department care pursuant to such section with the shortest wait time.

(b) Form of information. Information provided under subsection (a)—

(1) may be provided electronically; and

(2) shall be documented in the health record of the veteran.

(c) Opt out. The Secretary shall permit a veteran to opt out of receiving information under subsection (a).

B Mental Health Treatment Programs

C Staffing Matters

D Optimization of Workforce

E Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation

F Other Health Care Matters