Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2021
Latest action · Mar 1, 2022 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 289.
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.
- IntroducedOct 20, 2021
- Passed SenateNot reached
- Passed HouseNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2021
This bill modifies and implements policies and procedures related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits for veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST), which is generally defined as physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment that occurred while the veteran was serving in the military.
The VA must report on MST in the digital age.
In the case of any veteran who claims that a covered mental health condition (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) based on MST was incurred or aggravated by active service, the VA must accept specified diagnoses and evidence as proof of service-connection.
The VA may not deny a veteran's claim of compensation for a covered mental health condition based on MST without first (1) advising the veteran that nonmilitary evidence and behavioral evidence may constitute credible corroborating evidence, and (2) allowing the veteran an opportunity to furnish the corroborating evidence or advise the VA of potential sources of such evidence.
The Veterans Benefits Administration must conduct an annual special focus review on the accuracy of the processing of claims for disability compensation for disabilities relating to MST.
Additionally, the bill (1) expands access to mental health care at VA facilities for survivors of MST, and (2) requires the Government Accountability Office to report on access to such care for individuals who have experienced MST.
Cosponsors 1
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Oct 20, 2021.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-AK | Lisa Murkowski | Original | Oct 20, 2021 |
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| Senate | Veterans' Affairs Committee | Referred Oct 20, 2021Hearings Oct 20, 2021Markup Dec 15, 2021Reported Mar 1, 2022 |
Actions 6
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Mar 1, 2022Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Mar 1, 2022Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 289.
- Dec 15, 2021Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Oct 20, 2021Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-501.
- Oct 20, 2021Introduced in Senate
- Oct 20, 2021Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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
- Jun 23, 2022S. 3025, Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2021As reported by the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on March 1, 2022
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR 5666 | Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2021 | Identical bill | Nov 2, 2021 |
Titles 3
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for military sexual trauma, and for other purposes.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2021
- Short Title(s) as Reported to Senate
- Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2021
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security.
- Administrative remedies
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Assault and harassment offenses
- Congressional oversight
- Crime victims
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Emergency medical services and trauma care
- Government studies and investigations
- Health care coverage and access
- Health facilities and institutions
- Internet, web applications, social media
- Medical tests and diagnostic methods
- Mental health
- Sex offenses
- Veterans' medical care
- Veterans' pensions and compensation
Text 2
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Mar 1, 2022Reported to Senate
- Oct 20, 2021Introduced in Senate
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.
