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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 1954 (115th)

Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2017

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

5 April 2017

Last action

24 April 2017 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Sponsors

Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Tsongas, Niki [D-MA-3], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Esty, Elizabeth H. [D-CT-5], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Del. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ], Rep. Poliquin, Bruce [R-ME-2], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

Subjects

Defence

Source updated

5 December 2025

Defence

Summary

Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2017 This bill expands Department of Defense (DOD) sexual trauma counseling and treatment to include: (1) cyber harassment of a sexual nature, and (2) members of the Armed Forces on active duty for training or inactive duty training. The bill sets forth the standard of proof, which may be rebutted, in the case of a veteran who claims that a covered mental health condition was incurred in or aggravated by military sexual trauma during active service. The reasons for granting or denying service-connection in each case shall be recorded in full. DOD shall ensure that: (1) in a compensation claim for post-traumatic stress disorder based on sexual assault, battery, cyber harassment, or harassment experienced during active military service, non-DOD evidence may corroborate the veteran's account of such assault, battery, or harassment; and (2) behavior changes may be considered as corroborating evidence. DOD shall: (1) report annually through 2027 on submitted claims to identify and track the consistency of decisions across regional offices, (2) inform members of the Armed Forces of their eligibility for services at Vet Centers, and (3) ensure that Sexual Assault Response Coordinators advise members of the Armed Forces who report instances of military sexual trauma about their eligibility for Vet Center services.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 5 April 2017

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 5 April 2017

    Introduced

    Referred 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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 5 April 2017

    Introduced

    Referred 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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 5 April 2017

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 6 April 2017

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

    Source: Committee

  6. 24 April 2017

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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Leesvertaling

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 5 April 2017

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 5 April 2017

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 5 April 2017

    Open at official source

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Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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