I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6466 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain abused dependents 

of veterans with health care. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 1, 2010 

Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas (for herself, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. COURTNEY, 

Ms. HIRONO, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. BOCCIERI, Ms. 

CLARKE, and Mr. CROWLEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain 

abused dependents of veterans with health care. 

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 ‘‘Dependent Care Act 

5 of 2010’’. 

6 SEC. 2. HEALTH CARE FOR CERTAIN DEPENDENTS WHO 

7 ARE VICTIMS OF ABUSE. 

8 (a) PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 38, 

2 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

3 end the following new section: 

4 ‘‘§ 1787. Health care for certain dependents who are 

5 victims of abuse 

6 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 1781 

7 of this title, the Secretary shall provide health care to a 

8 victim of abuse described in subsection (b) for physical 

9 and mental injuries resulting from such abuse. 

10 ‘‘(b) VICTIM OF ABUSE.—A victim of abuse described 

11 in this subsection is an individual who— 

12 ‘‘(1) is a spouse, child, or dependent parent of 

13 a veteran who— 

14 ‘‘(A) is enrolled to receive care under sec15 tion 1710 of this title; and 

16 ‘‘(B) has been diagnosed with post-trau17 matic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury; 

18 ‘‘(2) has been physically or psychologically 

19 abused by the veteran described in paragraph (1), as 

20 verified by the Secretary; and 

21 ‘‘(3) is not— 

22 ‘‘(A) eligible for medical coverage (other 

23 than under this section) under a program of the 

24 Federal Government or a State government; or 


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1 ‘‘(B) covered by a private medical insur2 ance policy. 

3 ‘‘(c) MENTAL HEALTH.—The Secretary shall ensure 

4 that health care provided under this section includes men5 tal health care as appropriate.’’. 

6 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec7 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

8 by inserting after the item relating to section 1786 

9 the following new item: 

‘‘1787. Health care for certain dependents who are victims of abuse.’’. 

10 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1781(a) of 

11 such title is amended— 

12 (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘, and’’ and 

13 inserting a comma; 

14 (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the semicolon 

15 and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and 

16 (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol17 lowing new paragraph: 

18 ‘‘(5) a victim of abuse under section 1787 of 

19 this title;’’. 

20 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

21 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 

22 Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

23 of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

24 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate a report addressing any 

25 challenges or concerns of the Secretary in verifying physVerDate Mar 15 2010 04:16 Dec 02, 2010 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6466.IH H6466

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1 ical or psychological abuse pursuant to section 1787(b)(2) 

2 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 

3 (a). 

4 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

5 this Act shall take effect on the date that is 180 days 

6 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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