I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1753 

To ensure that certain members of the Armed Forces who served in female 

cultural support teams receive proper credit for such service. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 23, 2023 

Mr. ISSA (for himself, Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia, Mr. CROW, and Ms. 

HOULAHAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ 

Affairs, 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 

A BILL 

To ensure that certain members of the Armed Forces who 

served in female cultural support teams receive proper 

credit for such service. 

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

3 SECTION 1. CREDIT FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE 

4 ARMED FORCES WHO SERVED IN FEMALE 

5 CULTURAL SUPPORT TEAMS. 

6 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

7 (1) In 2010, the Commander of United States 

8 Special Operations Command established the CulVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:45 Apr 06, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1753.IH H1753

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1 tural Support Team Program to overcome signifi2 cant intelligence gaps during the Global War on Ter3 ror. 

4 (2) From 2010 through 2021, approximately 

5 310 female members, from every Armed Force, 

6 passed and were selected as members of female cul7 tural support teams, and deployed with special oper8 ations forces. 

9 (3) Members of female cultural support teams 

10 served honorably, demonstrated commendable cour11 age, overcame such intelligence gaps, engaged in di12 rect action, and suffered casualties during the Glob13 al War on Terror. 

14 (4) The Federal Government has a duty to rec15 ognize members and veterans of female cultural sup16 port teams who volunteered join the Armed Forces, 

17 to undergo arduous training for covered service, and 

18 to execute dangerous and classified missions in the 

19 course of such covered service. 

20 (5) Members who performed covered service 

21 have sought treatment from the Department of Vet22 erans Affairs for traumatic brain injuries, post-trau23 matic stress, and disabling physical trauma incurred 

24 in the course of such covered service, but have been 

25 denied such care. 


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1 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the Sense of Con2 gress that individuals who performed covered service per3 formed exceptional service to the United States. 

4 (c) MILITARY SERVICE: RECORDS; CALCULATION OF

5 RETIRED PAY.—Not later than one year after the date 

6 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall 

7 ensure that the performance of covered service is included 

8 in— 

9 (1) the military service record of each individual 

10 who performed covered service; and 

11 (2) the computation of retired pay for each in12 dividual who performed covered service. 

13 (d) CLAIMS FOR VETERANS BENEFITS ARISING

14 FROM COVERED SERVICE.— 

15 (1) DETERMINATION OF SERVICE CONNEC16 TION.—Upon the filing of a claim by an individual 

17 described in paragraph (3)(C) for service-connected 

18 disability or death incurred or aggravated in the 

19 course of covered service, the Secretary of Veterans 

20 Affairs shall determine whether such disability or 

21 death was service-connected. 

22 (2) TREATMENT OF COVERED SERVICE.—In the 

23 consideration of a claim under this subsection, the 

24 Secretary shall treat covered service as engagement 


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1 in combat with the enemy in the course of active 

2 military, naval, air, or space service. 

3 (3) EFFECTIVE DATE OF AWARD.— 

4 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided by 

5 subparagraph (B), the effective date of an 

6 award under this subsection shall be determined 

7 in accordance with section 5110 of title 38, 

8 United States Code. 

9 (B) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding sub10 section (g) of such section, the Secretary shall 

11 determine the effective date of an award based 

12 on a claim under this subsection for an indi13 vidual described in subparagraph (C) by treat14 ing the date on which the individual filed the 

15 initial claim specified in clause (i) of such sub16 paragraph as the date on which the individual 

17 filed the claim so awarded under this section. 

18 (C) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—An indi19 vidual described in this subparagraph is an in20 dividual who performed covered service, or a 

21 survivor of such an individual— 

22 (i) who, before the date of the enact23 ment of this Act, submitted a claim for 

24 service-connected disability or death of 

25 such individual; 


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1 (ii) whose such claim was denied by 

2 reason of the claim not establishing that 

3 the disability or death was service-con4 nected; 

5 (iii) who submits a claim during the 

6 period of three years beginning on the date 

7 of the enactment of this Act, for the same 

8 condition covered by the prior claim under 

9 clause; and 

10 (iv) whose such claim is approved pur11 suant to this subsection. 

12 (4) PROCESSING OF CLAIMS.—The Secretary of 

13 Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary 

14 of Defense, shall improve training and guidance for 

15 employees who may process a claim under this sub16 section. 

17 (5) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall conduct 

18 outreach to inform individuals who performed cov19 ered service (and survivors of such individuals) that 

20 they may submit supplemental claims for service21 connected disability or death incurred or aggravated 

22 in the course of covered service. Such outreach shall 

23 include the following: 

24 (A) The Secretary shall publish on the 

25 internet website of the Department a notice 


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1 that such individuals may elect to file a supple2 mental claim. 

3 (B) The Secretary shall notify, in writing 

4 or by electronic means, veterans service organi5 zations of the ability of such individuals to file 

6 a supplemental claim. 

7 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

8 (1) The term ‘‘covered service’’ means service— 

9 (A) as a member of the Armed Forces; 

10 (B) in a female cultural support team; 

11 (C) with the personnel development skill 

12 identifier of R2J or 5DK; and 

13 (D) during the period beginning on Janu14 ary 1, 2010, and ending on August 31, 2021. 

15 (2) The terms ‘‘active military, naval, air, or 

16 space service’’ and ‘‘service-connected’’ have the 

17 meanings given such terms in section 101 of title 38, 

18 United States Code. 

19 (3) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the 

20 meaning given such term in section 101 of title 10, 

21 United States Code. 

Æ 


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