S 1982 · 113th Congress 2013–2015, ended

Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014

Latest action · Feb 27, 2014 Motion by Senator Reid to commit to Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs with instructions to report back forthwith with amendment (SA 2767) fell when the bill was committed in Senate. (consideration: CR S1209-1210)

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedFeb 3, 2014
  2. Passed SenateNot reached
  3. Passed HouseNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014 - Amends federal veterans provisions to revise or add provisions concerning medical services and other benefits provided to veterans and/or their dependents through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) relating to the following areas:

  • survivor and dependent matters, including benefits for children of certain veterans born with spina bifida;
  • education matters, including the approval of courses for purposes of the All-Volunteer Force and the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance programs;
  • the expansion and extension of certain health care benefits, including immunizations, chiropractic care, treatment for traumatic brain injury, and wellness promotion;
  • health care administration, including extension of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program, and
  • complementary and alternative medicine;
  • mental health care, including an education program and peer support program for family members and caregivers of veterans with mental health disorders;
  • dental care eligibility and expansion, including a program of education to promote dental health in veterans;
  • health care related to sexual trauma, including appropriate counseling and treatment and a screening mechanism to detect incidents of domestic abuse;
  • reproductive treatment and services, including fertility counseling as well as adoption assistance for severely wounded veterans;
  • major medical facility leases;
  • veterans' employment training and related services;
  • veterans' employment, including within the federal government and as first responders;
  • career transition services;
  • employment and reemployment rights of members of the Armed Forces after active duty service;
  • small business matters, including contracting and subcontracting participation goals with federal departments and agencies;
  • administrative matters, including regional support centers for Veterans Integrated Service Networks;
  • the revision of claims based on military sexual trauma as well as claims for dependency and indemnity compensation;
  • jurisdictional matters, including with respect to the Board of Veterans' Appeals and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims;
  • the revision of certain rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, including protections with respect to the expiration of professional licenses, a prohibition on the denial of credit or the termination of residential leases due to military service, and the temporary protection of surviving spouses under mortgage foreclosures; and
  • outreach and miscellaneous matters, including: (1) repeal of the provision of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 that reduces the cost-of-living adjustment to the retirement pay of members of the Armed Forces under age 62, and (2) the accounting for discretionary accounts designated for overseas contingency operations/global war on terrorism.

Recorded votes 3

Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.

Roll callQuestionResultDate
Senate 46Motion Rejected56–41Feb 27, 2014
Senate 45Motion to Table Failed44–52Feb 27, 2014
Senate 44Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed to99–0Feb 25, 2014

Cosponsors 29

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Feb 3, 2014 to Apr 1, 2014; 10 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
D-CABarbara BoxerOriginalFeb 3, 2014
D-HIBrian SchatzOriginalFeb 3, 2014
D-NDHeidi HeitkampOriginalFeb 3, 2014
D-NYKirsten E. GillibrandOriginalFeb 3, 2014
D-AKMark BegichOriginalFeb 3, 2014
D-LAMary L. LandrieuOriginalFeb 3, 2014
D-HIMazie K. HironoOriginalFeb 3, 2014
D-CTRichard BlumenthalOriginalFeb 3, 2014
D-RISheldon WhitehouseOriginalFeb 3, 2014
D-OHSherrod BrownOriginalFeb 3, 2014
D-RIJack ReedFeb 4, 2014
D-NHJeanne ShaheenFeb 4, 2014
D-ORJeff MerkleyFeb 4, 2014
D-NMMartin HeinrichFeb 4, 2014
D-WAPatty MurrayFeb 4, 2014
D-PARobert P. Casey Jr.Feb 4, 2014
D-WVJohn D. Rockefeller IVFeb 6, 2014
D-MTJon TesterFeb 6, 2014
D-WAMaria CantwellFeb 10, 2014
D-NJCory A. BookerFeb 11, 2014
D-MIDebbie StabenowFeb 11, 2014
D-NYCharles E. SchumerFeb 24, 2014
D-DEChristopher A. CoonsFeb 24, 2014
D-MAEdward J. MarkeyFeb 24, 2014
D-MNAl FrankenFeb 25, 2014
D-MTJohn E. WalshFeb 25, 2014
D-WITammy BaldwinFeb 26, 2014
D-VATim KaineFeb 26, 2014
D-MNAmy KlobucharApr 1, 2014

Committees 1

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
SenateVeterans' Affairs Committee
Committed Feb 27, 2014

Actions 21

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Feb 27, 2014Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1194-1210)
  2. Feb 27, 2014Point of order against the measure raised in Senate.
  3. Feb 27, 2014Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to the measure made in Senate.
  4. Feb 27, 2014Motion to table the motion by Senator Reid to commit the bill (S. 1982) to Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs with instructions to report back forthwith with amendment SA 2767 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 44 - 52. Record Vote Number: 45. (consideration: CR S1209-1210)
  5. Feb 27, 2014Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to the measure rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 56 - 41. Record Vote Number: 46. (consideration: CR S1210)

In the Congressional Record 13

Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.

WhereIn the RecordMembersDate
SenateDebate and remarks S3319Harry Reid D-NVJun 2, 2014
SenateDebate and remarks S3262, S3264Bernard Sanders I-VT, Marco Rubio R-FLMay 22, 2014
SenateDebate and remarks S2310–S2312Bernard Sanders I-VT, David Vitter R-LAApr 9, 2014
SenateDebate and remarks S1331Bernard Sanders I-VTMar 6, 2014
SenateAmendments S1316Chuck Grassley R-IA (amendment), Kelly Ayotte R-NH (amendment)Mar 5, 2014

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

Congressional Budget Office cost estimate

  1. Feb 4, 2014S. 1982, Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014Updated estimate of the direct spending effects and discretionary costs of S. 1982, as introduced on February 3, 2014. Estimate updated to reflect CBO's February 2014 baseline.

Printed hearings 5

Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.

Amendments 61

Amendments offered to this bill.

AmendmentDescriptionOffered byStatus
SA 2744No description on fileSusan M. Collins R-MESenate amendment submitted
SA 2745No description on fileSusan M. Collins R-MESenate amendment submitted
SA 2746No description on fileKay R. Hagan D-NCSenate amendment submitted
SA 2747In the nature of a substitute.Bernard Sanders I-VTSA 2747 fell when the bill was committed. (consideration: CR S1210)
SA 2748No description on fileMarco Rubio R-FLSenate amendment submitted

Related bills 37

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
S 229Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Act of 2013Related billDec 16, 2014
S 430Veterans Small Business Opportunity and Protection Act of 2013Related billJun 12, 2013
HR 454To designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 3900 Woodland Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the "Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center".Related billFeb 8, 2013
S 492A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require States to recognize the military experience of veterans when issuing licenses and credentials to veterans, and for other purposes.Related billJun 12, 2013
S 495Careers for Veterans Act of 2013Related billJun 12, 2013
S 529A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the commencement date of the period of service at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for eligibility for hospital care and medical services in connection with exposure to contaminated water, and for other purposes.Related billMay 9, 2013
S 735Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2013Related billJun 12, 2013
S 748Veterans Pension Protection ActRelated billJun 12, 2013
S 778A bill to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to issue cards to veterans that identify them as veterans, and for other purposes.Related billJun 12, 2013
S 877Veterans Affairs Research Transparency Act of 2013Related billMay 9, 2013
S 894A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend expiring authority for work-study allowances for individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to expand such authority to certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes.Related billJun 12, 2013
S 944Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2013Related billDec 9, 2013
S 1039Spouses of Heroes Education ActRelated billJun 12, 2013
S 1211A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the use of the phrases GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill to give a false impression of approval or endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs.Related billOct 30, 2013
S 1399A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to extend the interest rate limitation on debt entered into during military service to debt incurred during military service to consolidate or refinance student loans incurred before military service.Related billOct 30, 2013
S 1411Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2013Related billOct 30, 2013
S 1547Veterans Dialysis Pilot Program Review Act of 2013Related billOct 30, 2013
S 1578A bill to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to cover the costs associated with the care of veterans at medical foster homes.Related billOct 30, 2013
S 1580Ensuring Safe Shelter for Homeless Veterans Act of 2013Related billOct 30, 2013
S 1581Survivors of Military Sexual Assault and Domestic Abuse Act of 2013Related billNov 19, 2013
S 1582Improved Compensation for Hearing Loss Act of 2013Related billOct 30, 2013
S 1586Enhanced Dental Care for Veterans Act of 2013Related billOct 30, 2013
S 1589Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013Related billOct 30, 2013
S 1593Servicemember Housing Protection Act of 2013Related billNov 19, 2013
S 1740Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013Related billNov 20, 2013
S 1950Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014Related billFeb 4, 2014
HR 2341Veterans Pension Protection ActRelated billJun 28, 2013
HR 2528To establish a task force in the Department of Veterans Affairs to assess the retention and training of claims processors.Related billJul 12, 2013
HR 2859To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to extend the interest rate limitation on debt entered into during military service to debt incurred during military service to consolidate or refinance student loans incurred before military service.Related billAug 13, 2013
HR 2913Veterans' Local Access ActRelated billAug 13, 2013
HR 3007To amend title 38, United States Code, to require States to recognize the military experience of veterans when issuing licenses and credentials to veterans, and for other purposes.Related billAug 13, 2013
HR 3098Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Relief ActRelated billSep 12, 2013
HR 3441Spouses of Heroes Education ActRelated billNov 12, 2013
HR 3521Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013Related billDec 20, 2013
HR 3614Military Skills to Careers ActRelated billMar 25, 2014
HR 3615Careers for Heroes ActRelated billDec 11, 2013
HR 3831Veterans Dialysis Pilot Program Review Act of 2014Related billMar 27, 2014

Titles 2

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced
A bill to improve the provision of medical services and benefits to veterans, and for other purposes.
Short Titles as Introduced
Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security.

Text 2

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Feb 27, 2014Referred to Committee Senate
  2. Feb 4, 2014Placed on Calendar Senate

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.