I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1997 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot program 

on posttraumatic growth, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 29, 2019 

Mr. RYAN (for himself, Mr. RESCHENTHALER, Mr. WATKINS, Mr. SUOZZI, 

Mrs. RADEWAGEN, and Mr. CARSON of Indiana) introduced the following 

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

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a 

pilot program on posttraumatic growth, 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 ‘‘Veterans 

5 Posttraumatic Growth Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) There is a shortage of adequate, timely, and 

2 effective mental health care available to veterans 

3 across the United States. 

4 (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs con5 tinues to highlight veterans mental health care and 

6 suicide prevention as a key priority. 

7 (3) There is an opportunity to explore effective 

8 alternative treatments focused on the area of 

9 posttraumatic growth. 

10 SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM ON POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH. 

11 (a) PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

12 shall conduct a pilot program to study the effectiveness 

13 and benefits of nonprofit posttraumatic growth programs 

14 to determine— 

15 (1) the outcomes of such programs in contrast 

16 to traditional models of mental health care; 

17 (2) the possible integration of such nonprofit 

18 programs into the mental health care programs pro19 vided by the Secretary; and 

20 (3) the budgetary impacts of such integration. 

21 (b) REVIEW AND EVALUATION.—In developing the 

22 pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 

23 (1) review relevant literature to summarize the 

24 existing knowledge regarding posttraumatic growth 

25 programs; and 


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1 (2) evaluate such programs. 

2 (c) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the 

3 pilot program under subsection (a) for a two-year period 

4 beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of 

5 the enactment of this Act. 

6 (d) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall select more 

7 than one location at which to carry out the pilot program 

8 under subsection (a), of which at least one location shall 

9 include a rural area. 

10 (e) PARTICIPANTS.— 

11 (1) ELIGIBILITY.—A veteran is eligible to par12 ticipate in the pilot program under subsection (a) if 

13 the Secretary determines that the veteran is— 

14 (A) not at known immediate risk of at15 tempting suicide; and 

16 (B) not participating in traditional mental 

17 health treatment. 

18 (2) FEMALE VETERANS.—Not fewer than four 

19 groups of veterans participating in the pilot program 

20 under subsection (a) shall consist only of female vet21 erans. 

22 (f) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.—The Secretary 

23 shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) by 

24 entering into an agreement with one or more nonprofit 

25 organizations that— 


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1 (1) have staff with expertise in evidence-based 

2 care and experience working with veterans; 

3 (2) have experience in the science of 

4 posttraumatic growth; and 

5 (3) uses a standardized, evaluated, and com6 prehensive curriculum. 

7 (g) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 

8 on which the pilot program under subsection (a) is com9 pleted, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 

10 on the pilot program, including a comparison of the care 

11 provided under the pilot program and the clinical care 

12 model of the Department. 

Æ 


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