Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2021

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 revise its regulations to update the definition of MST to include matters relating to technological abuse. 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 VA and the Government Accountability Office to report on access to such care for MST survivors.

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

Timeline

1. 21 October 2021

   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

2. 21 October 2021

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 21 October 2021

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 2 November 2021

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 21 October 2021 · Download file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 21 October 2021

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 21 October 2021

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 21 October 2021

  Open at official source

  Leesvertaling

  Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

  Vertaal naarNL · DutchDE · GermanFR · FrenchES · SpanishIT · ItalianPL · PolishPT · PortugueseSV · SwedishDA · DanishFI · FinnishEL · GreekCS · CzechHU · HungarianRO · RomanianBG · BulgarianHR · CroatianSK · SlovakSL · SlovenianLT · LithuanianLV · LatvianET · EstonianGA · IrishMT · Maltese

  Vertaal document

  Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Sponsors

• Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] · D · Sponsor
• Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3] · D · Cosponsor
• Del. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7] · D · Cosponsor
• Carolyn Bourdeaux · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Malinowski, Tom [D-NJ-7] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] · D · Cosponsor
• · hsvr00 · Standing
• · hsas00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2021