I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 271 

To establish a commission to examine the evidence-based therapy treatment 

model used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for treating mental 

illnesses of veterans and the potential benefits of incorporating complementary alternative treatments available in non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities within the community. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 12, 2015 

Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself, Ms. FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. JOLLY, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. PALAZZO, and Mr. RUIZ) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To establish a commission to examine the evidence-based 

therapy treatment model used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for treating mental illnesses of veterans 

and the potential benefits of incorporating complementary alternative treatments available in non-Department 

of Veterans Affairs medical facilities within the community. 

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


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Creating Options for 

3 Veterans Expedited Recovery Act’’ or the ‘‘COVER Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES. 

5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Vet6 erans Expedited Recovery Commission (in this Act re7 ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

8 (b) DUTIES.—The Commission shall perform the fol9 lowing duties: 

10 (1) Examine the efficacy of the evidence-based 

11 therapy model used by the Secretary of Veterans Af12 fairs for treating mental health illnesses of veterans 

13 and identify areas to improve wellness-based out14 comes. 

15 (2) Conduct a patient-centered survey within 

16 each of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks to 

17 examine— 

18 (A) the experience of veterans with the De19 partment of Veterans Affairs when seeking 

20 medical assistance for mental health issues 

21 through the health care system of the Depart22 ment; 

23 (B) the experience of veterans with non24 Department medical facilities and health profes25 sionals for treating mental health issues; 


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1 (C) the preferences of veterans regarding 

2 available treatments for mental health issues 

3 and which methods the veterans believe to be 

4 most effective; 

5 (D) the experience, if any, of veterans with 

6 respect to the complementary alternative treat7 ment therapies described in subparagraphs (A) 

8 through (I) in paragraph (3); 

9 (E) the prevalence of prescribing prescrip10 tion medication among veterans seeking treat11 ment through the health care system of the De12 partment as remedies for addressing mental 

13 health issues; and 

14 (F) the outreach efforts of the Secretary 

15 regarding the availability of benefits and treat16 ments for veterans for addressing mental health 

17 issues, including by identifying ways to reduce 

18 barriers to and gaps in such benefits and treat19 ments. 

20 (3) Examine available research on complemen21 tary alternative treatment therapies for mental 

22 health issues and identify what benefits could be 

23 made with the inclusion of such treatments for vet24 erans, including with respect to— 

25 (A) music therapy; 


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1 (B) equine therapy; 

2 (C) training and caring for service dogs; 

3 (D) yoga therapy; 

4 (E) acupuncture therapy; 

5 (F) meditation therapy; 

6 (G) outdoor sports therapy; 

7 (H) hyperbaric oxygen therapy; 

8 (I) accelerated resolution therapy; and 

9 (J) other therapies the Commission deter10 mines appropriate. 

11 (4) Study the potential increase of claims relat12 ing to mental health issues submitted to the Sec13 retary by veterans who served in Operation Endur14 ing Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Oper15 ation New Dawn, including an assessment of the re16 sources available within the Department to ensure 

17 that quality health care demands relating to such 

18 claims can be delivered in a timely manner. 

19 SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP. 

20 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be 

22 composed of 10 members, appointed as follows: 

23 (A) Two members appointed by the Speak24 er of the House of Representatives, at least one 

25 of whom shall be a veteran. 


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1 (B) Two members appointed by the Minor2 ity Leader of the House of Representatives, at 

3 least one of whom shall be a veteran. 

4 (C) Two members appointed by the Major5 ity Leader of the Senate, at least one of whom 

6 shall be a veteran. 

7 (D) Two members appointed by the Minor8 ity Leader of the Senate, at least one of whom 

9 shall be a veteran. 

10 (E) Two members appointed by the Presi11 dent, at least one of whom shall be a veteran. 

12 (2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Com13 mission shall be— 

14 (A) individuals who are of recognized 

15 standing and distinction within the medical 

16 community with a background in treating men17 tal health; 

18 (B) individuals with experience working 

19 with the military and veteran population; and 

20 (C) individuals who do not have a financial 

21 interest in any of the complementary alternative 

22 treatments reviewed by the Commission. 

23 (b) CHAIRMAN.—The President shall designate a 

24 member of the Commission to be the chairman. 


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1 (c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Members of the 

2 Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commis3 sion. 

4 (d) VACANCY.—A vacancy in the Commission shall 

5 be filled in the manner in which the original appointment 

6 was made. 

7 (e) APPOINTMENT DEADLINE.—The appointment of 

8 members of the Commission in this section shall be made 

9 not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 

10 of this Act. 

11 SEC. 4. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 

12 (a) MEETING.— 

13 (1) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall 

14 hold its first meeting not later than 30 days after 

15 a majority of members are appointed to the Commis16 sion. 

17 (2) MEETING.—The Commission shall regularly 

18 meet at the call of the Chairman. Such meetings 

19 may be carried out through the use of telephonic or 

20 other appropriate telecommunication technology if 

21 the Commission determines that such technology will 

22 allow the members to communicate simultaneously. 

23 (b) HEARING.—The Commission may hold such hear24 ings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testi25 mony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers 


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1 advisable to carry out the responsibilities of the Commis2 sion. 

3 (c) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 

4 Commission may secure directly from any department or 

5 agency of the Federal Government such information as the 

6 Commission considers necessary to carry out the duties 

7 of the Commission. 

8 (d) INFORMATION FROM NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGA9 NIZATIONS.—In carrying out section 2(b), the Commission 

10 may seek guidance through consultation with foundations, 

11 veterans service organizations, nonprofit groups, faith12 based organizations, private and public institutions of 

13 higher education, and other organizations as the Commis14 sion determines appropriate. 

15 (e) COMMISSION RECORDS.—The Commission shall 

16 keep an accurate and complete record of the actions and 

17 meetings of the Commission. Such record shall be made 

18 available for public inspection and the Comptroller Gen19 eral of the United States may audit and examine such 

20 record. 

21 (f) PERSONNEL MATTERS.—Upon request of the 

22 chairman of the Commission, the head of any department 

23 or agency of the Federal Government may detail, on a re24 imbursable basis, any personnel of that department or 


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1 agency to assist the Commission in carrying out the duties 

2 of the Commission. 

3 (g) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS; TRAVEL EX4 PENSES.—Each member shall serve without pay, except 

5 that each member shall receive travel expenses to perform 

6 the duties of the Commission under section 2(b) of this 

7 Act, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates au8 thorized under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 

9 United States Code. 

10 (h) STAFF.—The Chairman, in accordance with rules 

11 agreed upon by the Commission, may appoint and fix the 

12 compensation of a staff director and such other personnel 

13 as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry 

14 out its functions, without regard to the provisions of title 

15 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 

16 competitive service, without regard to the provision of 

17 chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title 

18 relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, 

19 except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may 

20 exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at a 

21 level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 

22 title 5, United States Code. 

23 (i) PERSONNEL AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—The executive director and 

25 any personnel of the Commission are employees 


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1 under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, 

2 for purpose of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, 

3 and 90 of such title. 

4 (2) MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.—Para5 graph (1) shall not be construed to apply to mem6 bers of the Commission. 

7 (j) CONTRACTING.—The Commission may, to such 

8 extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropria9 tions Acts, enter into contracts to enable the Commission 

10 to discharge the duties of the Commission under this Act. 

11 (k) EXPERT AND CONSULTANT SERVICE.—The Com12 mission may procure the services of experts and consult13 ants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United 

14 States Code, at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid 

15 to a person occupying a position at level IV of the Execu16 tive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 

17 Code. 

18 (l) POSTAL SERVICE.—The Commission may use the 

19 United States mails in the same manner and under the 

20 same conditions as departments and agencies of the 

21 United States. 

22 (m) PHYSICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT.—Upon 

23 the request of the Commission, the Administrator of Gen24 eral Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reim25 bursable basis, the administrative support services necVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Jan 17, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H271.IH H271

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1 essary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 

2 under this Act. These administrative services may include 

3 human resource management, budget, leasing, accounting, 

4 and payroll services. 

5 SEC. 5. REPORT. 

6 (a) INTERIM REPORTS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 

8 the date on which the Commission first meets, and 

9 each 30-day period thereafter ending on the date on 

10 which the Commission submits the final report 

11 under subsection (b), the Commission shall submit 

12 to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 

13 of Representatives and the Senate and the President 

14 a report detailing the level of cooperation the Sec15 retary of Veterans Affairs (and the heads of other 

16 departments or agencies of the Federal Government) 

17 has provided to the Commission. 

18 (2) OTHER REPORTS.—In carrying out the du19 ties pursuant to section 2(b), at times that the Com20 mission determines appropriate, the Commission 

21 shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs 

22 of the House of Representatives and the Senate and 

23 any other appropriate entities an interim report with 

24 respect to the findings identified by the Commission. 


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1 (b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after 

2 the first meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall 

3 submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

4 House of Representatives and the Senate, the President, 

5 and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a final report on 

6 the findings of the Commission. Such report shall include 

7 the following: 

8 (1) Recommendations to implement in a fea9 sible, timely, and cost-effective manner the solutions 

10 and remedies identified within the findings of the 

11 Commission pursuant to section 2(b). 

12 (2) An analysis of the evidence-based therapy 

13 model used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 

14 treating veterans with mental health care issues, and 

15 an examination of the prevalence and efficacy of pre16 scription drugs as a means for treatment. 

17 (3) The findings of the patient-centered survey 

18 conducted within each of the Veterans Integrated 

19 Service Networks pursuant to section 2(b)(2). 

20 (4) An examination of complementary alter21 native treatments described in section 2(b)(3) and 

22 the potential benefits of incorporating such treat23 ments in the therapy model used by the Secretary 

24 for treating veterans with mental health issues. 


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1 (c) PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after the date on 

2 which the Commission submits the final report under sub3 section (b), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 

4 to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

5 Representatives and the Senate a report on the following: 

6 (1) An action plan for implementing the rec7 ommendations established by the Commission on 

8 such solutions and remedies for improving wellness9 based outcomes for veterans with mental health care 

10 issues. 

11 (2) A feasible timeframe on when complemen12 tary alternative treatments described in section 

13 2(b)(3) can be implemented Department-wide. 

14 (3) With respect to each recommendation estab15 lished by the Commission, including regarding any 

16 complementary alternative treatment, that the Sec17 retary determines is not appropriate or feasible to 

18 implement, a justification for each such determina19 tion and an alternative solution to improve the effi20 cacy of the therapy model used by the Secretary for 

21 treating veterans with mental health issues. 

22 SEC. 6. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. 

23 The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the 

24 Commission submits the final report under section 5(b). 

Æ 


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