I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8879 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve claims, made under 

laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, regarding military sexual trauma, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 28, 2024 

Mrs. KIM of California (for herself and Ms. BUDZINSKI) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve claims, 

made under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, regarding military sexual trauma, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving VA Train5 ing for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF CLAIMS BASED ON MILITARY 

2 SEXUAL TRAUMA UNDER LAWS ADMINIS3 TERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AF4 FAIRS. 

5 (a) TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES WHO PROCESS SUCH

6 CLAIMS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (c) of section 

8 1166 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

9 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘mem10 bers of teams established under subsection (a) 

11 are trained’’ and inserting ‘‘each employee of 

12 the Department who processes such a claim, 

13 communicates with a claimant regarding evi14 dence supporting such a claim, or decides such 

15 a claim, receives annual sensitivity training and 

16 training’’; and 

17 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

18 paragraph: 

19 ‘‘(4) The Secretary shall update training under this 

20 subsection not less than once annually.’’. 

21 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 

22 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

23 Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on 

24 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Rep25 resentatives a report regarding— 


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1 (A) training provided under such sub2 section before such date; and 

3 (B) plans of the Secretary to carry out the 

4 amendments made by paragraph (1). 

5 (b) EXPANSION OF DUTY TO ASSIST IN OBTAINING

6 RECORDS FOR A COMPENSATION CLAIM.—Section 

7 5103A(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

8 (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para9 graph (3); and 

10 (2) by inserting, after paragraph (1), the fol11 lowing new paragraph (2): 

12 ‘‘(2) In the case of a claim under section 1166 of 

13 this title, the assistance provided by the Secretary under 

14 this section shall include obtaining the service personnel 

15 record and service medical record of the claimant.’’. 

16 (c) SENSITIVITY TRAINING FOR CERTAIN CON17 TRACTED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS: REPORT; IM18 PROVEMENTS.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 

19 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Af20 fairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs 

21 of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on— 

22 (1) sensitivity training required for health care 

23 professionals, contracted under section 504 of the 

24 Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Pub25 lic Law 104–275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), to perform 


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1 examinations of veterans who make claims under 

2 section 1166 of title 38, United States Code; and 

3 (2) the plan of the Secretary to— 

4 (A) improve such sensitivity training; and 

5 (B) ensure that a veteran who makes such 

6 a claim is not retraumatized during such an ex7 amination by such a contracted health care pro8 fessional. 

Æ 


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