Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2023
Latest action · Apr 14, 2023 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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.
- IntroducedMar 30, 2023
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2023
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.
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 consider (1) a diagnosis of the condition by a mental health professional, (2) a medically proven link between current symptoms and MST, and (3) credible supporting evidence that MST occurred.
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 MST survivors.
Cosponsors 14
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from May 2, 2023 to Dec 11, 2024.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-CA | Julia Brownley | May 2, 2023 | |
| D-FL | Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick | May 25, 2023 | |
| D-MI | Daniel T. Kildee | Jul 18, 2023 | |
| D-CA | Grace F. Napolitano | Jul 25, 2023 | |
| D-OR | Earl Blumenauer | Sep 8, 2023 | |
| D-FL | Maxwell Frost | Sep 8, 2023 | |
| D-NH | Chris Pappas | Sep 19, 2023 | |
| D-NH | Ann M. Kuster | Oct 6, 2023 | |
| D-NC | Wiley Nickel | Oct 6, 2023 | |
| D-IL | Delia C. Ramirez | Nov 7, 2023 | |
| D-OR | Val T. Hoyle | Jan 10, 2024 | |
| D-MI | Debbie Dingell | Sep 19, 2024 | |
| D-HI | Jill N. Tokuda | Nov 20, 2024 | |
| D-IN | Frank J. Mrvan | Dec 11, 2024 |
Actions 3
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Apr 14, 2023Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Mar 30, 2023Introduced in House
- Mar 30, 2023Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 1028 | Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2023 | Identical bill | Mar 29, 2023 |
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security.
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Mar 30, 2023Introduced in House
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.