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

B Mental Health Treatment Programs

C Staffing Matters

Sec. 636. Expansion of reimbursement of continuing professional education expenses

(a) In general. Section 7411 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

Text this section adds to the law

7411. Reimbursement of continuing professional education expenses

(a) Required reimbursement. The Secretary shall reimburse any full-time physician, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor, optometrist, psychologist, registered nurse (including any advanced practice registered nurse), or physician assistant appointed under section 7401(1) of this title not more than $1,000 per year for each such individual for expenses incurred for continuing professional education directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position of the employee or related to the duties and responsibilities of the position or positions of the employees overseen by the employee.

(b) Authorized reimbursement. The Secretary may reimburse any full-time licensed practical or vocational nurse (including any nurse practitioner), medical technologist, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, diagnostic radiologic technologist, or social worker appointed under section 7401(3) of this title, not more than $1,000 per year for each such individual for expenses incurred for continuing professional education directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position of the employee or related to the duties and responsibilities of the position or positions of the employees overseen by the employee.

(c) Maximum number of individuals reimbursed. The total number of individuals who may be reimbursed under this section may not exceed 50,000 per year.

(d) Priority reimbursements. In providing reimbursement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prioritize reimbursement for individuals providing direct patient care or individuals who are decision-makers for direct patient care.

(e) Report required

(1) In general. Not less frequently than annually after the end of the first fiscal year following the date of the enactment of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives information on utilization of reimbursement under this section, including—

(A) locations at which reimbursement is claimed;

(B) position title and specialty of the individual claiming reimbursement;

(C) average amount claimed per position and specialty; and

(D) percent utilization by each position and specialty overall.

(2) Authority to include in existing report. The information required under paragraph (1) may be submitted independently or included in another annual report to Congress.

(b) Clerical amendment. The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 7411 and inserting the following new item:

Text this section adds to the law

7411. Reimbursement of continuing professional education expenses.

D Optimization of Workforce

E Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation

F Other Health Care Matters