SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Deborah Sampson Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 
Sec. 101. Office of Women’s Health in the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 102. Expansion of capabilities of women veterans call center to include 
text messaging. 
Sec. 103. Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs internet website to 
provide information on services available to women veterans. 
Sec. 104. Report on Women Veterans Retrofit Initiative. 
Sec. 105. Establishment of environment of care standards and inspections at 
Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers. 
Sec. 106. Additional funding for primary care and emergency care clinicians in 
Women Veterans Health Care Mini-Residency Program. 
Sec. 107. Establishment of women veteran training module for non-Department 
of Veterans Affairs health care providers. 
TITLE II—MEDICAL CARE 
Sec. 201. Improved access to Department of Veterans Affairs medical care for 
women veterans. 
Sec. 202. Counseling and treatment for sexual trauma. 
Sec. 203. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans and other individ-
uals. 
Sec. 204. Improvement of health care services provided to newborn children by 
Department of Veterans Affairs. 
TITLE III—REPORTS AND OTHER MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Reports 
Sec. 301. Assessment of effects of intimate partner violence on women veterans 
by Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. 
Sec. 302. Study on staffing of Women Veteran Program Manager program at 
medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs and 
training of staff. 
Sec. 303. Report on availability of prosthetic items for women veterans from 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 304. Study of barriers for women veterans to health care from the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 305. Report regarding veterans who receive benefits under laws adminis-
tered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 306. Study on Women Veteran Coordinator program. 
Subtitle B—Other Matters
Sec. 321. Anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault policy of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 322. Support for organizations that have a focus on providing assistance 
to women veterans and their families. 
Sec. 323. Gap analysis of Department of Veterans Affairs programs that pro-
vide assistance to women veterans who are homeless. 
Sec. 324. Department of Veterans Affairs public-private partnership on legal 
services for women veterans. 
Sec. 325. Program to assist veterans who experience intimate partner violence 
or sexual assault. 
Sec. 326. Study and task force on veterans experiencing intimate partner vio-
lence or sexual assault. 
TITLE I—VETERANS HEALTH 
ADMINISTRATION 
SEC. 101. OFFICE OF WOMEN’S HEALTH IN THE DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S HEALTH.—Subsection 
(a) of section 7306 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (10) as para-
graph (11); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(10) The Director of Women’s Health.’’. 
(b) ORGANIZATION OF OFFICE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 73 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end of the following new sections: 
‘‘§ 7310. Office of Women’s Health 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—(1) The Under Secretary for 
Health shall establish and operate in the Veterans Health 
Administration the Office of Women’s Health (hereinafter
in this section referred to as the ‘Office’). The Office shall 
be located at the Central Office of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
‘‘(2) The head of the Office is the Director of Wom-
en’s Health (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 
‘Director’). The Director shall report to the Under Sec-
retary for Health. 
‘‘(3) The Under Secretary for Health shall provide 
the Office with such staff and other support as may be 
necessary for the Office to carry out effectively its func-
tions under this section. 
‘‘(4) The Under Secretary for Health may reorganize 
existing offices within the Veterans Health Administration 
as of the date of the enactment of this section in order 
to avoid duplication with the functions of the Office. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The functions of the Office include 
the following: 
‘‘(1) To provide a central office for monitoring 
and encouraging the activities of the Veterans 
Health Administration with respect to the provision, 
evaluation, and improvement of women veterans’ 
health care services in the Department. 
‘‘(2) To develop and implement standards of 
care for the provision of health care for women vet-
erans in the Department.
‘‘(3) To monitor and identify deficiencies in 
standards of care for the provision of health care for 
women veterans in the Department, to provide tech-
nical assistance to medical facilities of the Depart-
ment to address and remedy deficiencies, and to per-
form oversight of implementation of standards of 
care for women veterans’ health care in the Depart-
ment. 
‘‘(4) To monitor and identify deficiencies in 
standards of care for the provision of health care for 
women veterans provided through the community 
pursuant to this title, and to provide recommenda-
tions to the appropriate office to address and rem-
edy any deficiencies. 
‘‘(5) To oversee distribution of resources and 
information related to women veterans’ health pro-
gramming under this title. 
‘‘(6) To promote the expansion and improve-
ment of clinical, research, and educational activities 
of the Veterans Health Administration with respect 
the health care of women veterans. 
‘‘(7) To provide, as part of the annual budg-
eting process, recommendations with respect to the 
amount of funds to be requested for furnishing hos-
pital care and medical services to women veterans
pursuant to chapter 17 of this title, including, at a 
minimum, recommendations that ensure that such 
amount of funds either reflect or exceed the propor-
tion of veterans enrolled in the patient enrollment 
system under section 1705 of this title who are 
women. 
‘‘(8) To provide recommendations to the Under 
Secretary for Health with respect to modifying the 
Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation system to 
ensure that resource allocations under such system 
reflect the health care needs of women veterans. 
‘‘(9) To carry out such other duties as the 
Under Secretary for Health may require. 
‘‘(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—If the Under Secretary 
for Health determines not to implement any recommenda-
tion made by the Director with respect to the allocation 
of resources to address the health care needs of women 
veterans, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate con-
gressional committees of such determination by not later 
than 30 days after the date on which the Under Secretary 
for Health receives the recommendation. Each such notifi-
cation shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) The reasoning of the Under Secretary for 
Health in making such determination.
‘‘(2) An alternative, if one is selected, to such 
recommendation that the Under Secretary for 
Health will carry out to fulfill the health care needs 
of women veterans. 
‘‘(d) STANDARDS
OF CARE.—In this section, the 
standards of care for the provision of health care for 
women veterans in the Department shall include, at a min-
imum, the following: 
‘‘(1) Requirement for— 
‘‘(A) at least one designated women’s 
health primary care provider at each medical 
center whose duties include, to the extent prac-
ticable, providing training to other health care 
providers of the Department with respect to the 
needs of women veterans; and 
‘‘(B) at least one designated women’s 
health primary care provider at each commu-
nity-based outpatient clinic of the Department 
who may serve female patients as a percentage 
of the total duties of the provider. 
‘‘(2) Other requirements as determined by the 
Under Secretary for Health. 
‘‘(e) OUTREACH.—The Director shall ensure that— 
‘‘(1) not less frequently than biannually, each 
medical facility of the Department holds a public
forum for women veterans that occurs outside of 
regular business hours; and 
‘‘(2) not less frequently than quarterly, each 
medical facility of the Department convenes a focus 
group of women veterans that includes a discussion 
of harassment occurring at such facility. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’ has the meaning given that term in section 
7310A of this title. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘facility of the Department’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 1701(3). 
‘‘(3) The term ‘Veterans Equitable Resource 
Allocation system’ means the resource allocation sys-
tem established pursuant to section 429 of the De-
partments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and 
Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Ap-
propriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104–204; 110 
Stat. 2929). 
‘‘§ 7310A. Annual reports on women’s Health 
‘‘(a) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than December 
1 of each year, the Director of Women’s Health shall sub-
mit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
containing the matters under subsections (b) through (g).
services to veterans. Such analysis shall include data and 
performance measures for the availability of gender spe-
cific services, including— 
‘‘(1) the average wait time between the vet-
eran’s preferred appointment date and the date on 
which the appointment is completed; 
‘‘(2) the average driving time required for vet-
erans to attend appointments; and 
‘‘(3) reasons why appointments could not be 
scheduled with non-Department medical providers. 
‘‘(d) LOCATIONS WHERE WOMEN VETERANS ARE 
USING HEALTH CARE.—Each report under subsection (a) 
shall include an analysis of the use by women veterans 
of health care from the Department, including the fol-
lowing information: 
‘‘(1) The number of women veterans who reside 
in each State. 
‘‘(2) The number of women veterans in each 
State who are enrolled in the system of patient en-
rollment of the Department established and operated 
under section 1705(a) this title. 
‘‘(3) Of the women veterans who are so en-
rolled, the number who have received health care 
under the laws administered by the Secretary at
least one time during the 1-year period preceding 
the submittal of the report. 
‘‘(4) The number of women veterans who have 
been seen at each medical facility of the Department 
during such year. 
‘‘(5) The number of appointments that women 
veterans have had at each such facility during such 
year. 
‘‘(6) If known, an identification of the medical 
facility of the Department in each Veterans Inte-
grated Service Network with the largest rate of in-
crease in patient population of women veterans as 
measured by the increase in unique women veteran 
patient use. 
‘‘(7) If known, an identification of the medical 
facility of the Department in each Veterans Inte-
grated Service Network with the largest rate of de-
crease in patient population of women veterans as 
measured by the decrease in unique women veterans 
patient use. 
‘‘(e) MODELS OF CARE.—Each report under sub-
section (a) shall include an analysis of the use by the De-
partment of general primary care clinics, separate but 
shared spaces, and women’s health centers as models of
providing health care to women veterans. Such analysis 
shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) The number of facilities of the Department 
that fall into each such model, disaggregated by Vet-
erans Integrated Service Network and State. 
‘‘(2) A description of the criteria used by the 
Department to determine which such model is most 
appropriate for each facility of the Department. 
‘‘(3) An assessment of how the Department de-
cides to make investments to modify facilities to a 
different model. 
‘‘(4) A description of what, if any, plans the 
Department has to modify facilities from general 
primary care clinics to another model. 
‘‘(5) An assessment of whether any facilities 
could be modified to a separate but shared space for 
a women’s health center within planned investments 
under the strategic capital investment planning proc-
ess of the Department. 
‘‘(6) An assessment of whether any facilities 
could be modified to a separate or shared space, or 
women’s health center with minor modifications to 
existing plans under the strategic capital investment 
planning process of the Department.
‘‘(7) An assessment of whether the Department 
has a goal for how many facilities should fall into 
each such model. 
‘‘(f) STAFFING.—Each report under subsection (a) 
shall include an analysis of the staffing of the Department 
relating to the treatment of women, including the fol-
lowing, disaggregated by Veterans Integrated Service Net-
work and State (except with respect to paragraph (4)): 
‘‘(1) The number of women’s health centers. 
‘‘(2) The number of patient aligned care teams 
of the Department relating to women’s health. 
‘‘(3) The number of full- and part-time gyne-
cologists of the Department. 
‘‘(4) The number of designated women’s health 
care providers of the Department, disaggregated by 
facility of the Department. 
‘‘(5) The number of health care providers of the 
Department who have completed a mini-residency 
for women’s health care through Women Veterans 
Health Care Mini-Residency Program of the Depart-
ment during the 1-year period preceding the sub-
mittal of the report, and the number that plan to 
participate in such a mini-residency during the 1- 
year period following such date.
‘‘(6) The number of designated women’s health 
care providers of the Department who have suffi-
cient female patients to retain their competencies 
and proficiencies. 
‘‘(g) ACCESSIBILITY AND TREATMENT OPTIONS.— 
Each report under subsection (a) shall include an analysis 
of the accessibility and treatment options for women vet-
erans, including the following: 
‘‘(1) An assessment of wheelchair accessibility 
of women’s health centers of the Department, in-
cluding, with respect to each such facility, an assess-
ment of such accessibility for each kind of treatment 
provided at the center, including with respect to ra-
diology and mammography, that addresses all rel-
evant factors, including door sizes, hoists, and equip-
ment. 
‘‘(2) The options for women veterans to access 
female mental health providers and primary care 
providers. 
‘‘(3) The options for women veterans at medical 
facilities of the Department with respect to clothing 
sizes, including for gowns, drawstring pants, and pa-
jamas. 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) The term ‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the House of Representatives and the Sen-
ate; and 
‘‘(B) the Committees on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘gender-specific services’ means 
mammography, obstetric care, gynecological care, 
and such other services as the Secretary determines 
appropriate.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for such chapter is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 7309A the following new 
items: 
‘‘7310. Office of Women’s Health. 
‘‘7310A. Annual reports on women’s Health.’’. 
(c) INITIAL REPORT.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall submit the initial report under section 7310A 
of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(b), by not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.
SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF CAPABILITIES OF WOMEN VET-
ERANS CALL CENTER TO INCLUDE TEXT MES-
SAGING. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall expand the 
capabilities of the Women Veterans Call Center of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs to include a text messaging 
capability. 
SEC. 103. REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS INTERNET WEBSITE TO PROVIDE IN-
FORMATION ON SERVICES AVAILABLE TO 
WOMEN VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall survey the internet websites and information re-
sources of the Department of Veterans Affairs in effect 
on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act 
and publish an internet website that serves as a central-
ized source for the provision to women veterans of infor-
mation about the benefits and services available to them 
under laws administered by the Secretary. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The internet website published 
under subsection (a) shall provide to women veterans in-
formation regarding all of the services available in the dis-
trict in which the veteran is seeking such services, includ-
ing, with respect to each medical center and community- 
based outpatient clinic in the applicable Veterans Inte-
grated Service Network—
(1) the name and contact information of each 
women veterans program manager; 
(2) a list of appropriate staff for other benefits 
available from the Veterans Benefits Administration, 
the National Cemetery Administration, and such 
other entities as the Secretary considers appropriate; 
and 
(3) such other information as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
(c) UPDATED INFORMATION.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that the information described in subsection (b) 
that is published on the internet website required by sub-
section (a) is updated not less frequently than once every 
90 days. 
(d) OUTREACH.—In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall ensure that the outreach conducted under 
section 1720F(i) of title 38, United States Code, includes 
information regarding the internet website required by 
subsection (a). 
(e) DERIVATION OF FUNDS.—Amounts used by the 
Secretary to carry out this section shall be derived from 
amounts made available to the Secretary to publish inter-
net websites of the Department.
SEC. 104. REPORT ON WOMEN VETERANS RETROFIT INITIA-
TIVE. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives a report on require-
ments to retrofit existing medical facilities of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs with fixtures, materials, and 
other outfitting measures to support the provision of care 
to women veterans at such facilities. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of how the Secretary 
prioritizes retrofitting existing medical facilities to 
support provision of care to women veterans in com-
parison to other requirements. 
(2) A 5-year plan for retrofitting medical facili-
ties of the Department to support the provision of 
care to women veterans. 
SEC. 105. ESTABLISHMENT OF ENVIRONMENT OF CARE 
STANDARDS AND INSPECTIONS AT DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CEN-
TERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall establish a policy under which the environment of
care standards and inspections at medical centers of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs include— 
(1) an alignment of the requirements for such 
standards and inspections with the women’s health 
handbook of the Veterans Health Administration; 
(2) a requirement for the frequency of such in-
spections; 
(3) delineation of the roles and responsibilities 
of staff at the medical center who are responsible for 
compliance; 
(4) the requirement that each medical center 
submit to the Secretary and make publicly available 
a report on the compliance of the medical center 
with the standards; and 
(5) a remediation plan. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
House of Representatives certification in writing that the 
policy required by subsection (a) has been finalized and 
disseminated to Department all medical centers.
SEC. 106. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PRIMARY CARE AND 
EMERGENCY CARE CLINICIANS IN WOMEN 
VETERANS HEALTH CARE MINI-RESIDENCY 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $1,000,000 
for each fiscal year for the Women Veterans Health Care 
Mini-Residency Program of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to provide opportunities for participation in such 
program for primary care and emergency care clinicians. 
(b) TREATMENT OF AMOUNTS.—The amounts au-
thorized to be appropriated under subsection (a) shall be 
in addition to amounts otherwise made available to the 
Secretary for the purposes set forth in such subsection. 
SEC. 107. ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN VETERAN TRAINING 
MODULE FOR NON-DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall establish and make available to commu-
nity providers a training module that is specific to women 
veterans. 
(b) COMMUNITY PROVIDER DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘community provider’’ means a non-Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs health care provider who pro-
vides health care to veterans under the laws administered 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
TITLE II—MEDICAL CARE 
SEC. 201. IMPROVED ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CARE FOR WOMEN 
VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1720J. Medical services for women veterans 
‘‘(a) ACCESS TO CARE.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that women’s health primary care services are available 
during regular business hours at every medical center and 
community based outpatient clinic of the Department. 
‘‘(b) STUDY ON EXTENDED HOURS OF CARE.—The 
Secretary shall conduct a study to assess— 
‘‘(1) the use of extended hours as a means of 
reducing barriers to care; 
‘‘(2) the need for extended hours based on 
interviews with women veterans and employees; and 
‘‘(3) the best practices and resources required 
to implement use of extended hours. 
‘‘(c) ANNUAL REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—Not later 
than September 30 of each year, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 
Representatives a report on compliance with subsection 
(a).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1720I the following new 
item: 
‘‘1720J. Medical services for women veterans.’’. 
SEC. 202. COUNSELING AND TREATMENT FOR SEXUAL 
TRAUMA. 
Section 1720D of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘active 
duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty 
training’’ and inserting ‘‘duty, regardless of 
duty status or line of duty determination (as 
that term is used in section 12323 of title 10)’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘ac-
tive duty, active duty for training, or inactive 
duty training’’ and inserting ‘‘duty, regardless 
of duty status or line of duty determination (as 
that term is used in section 12323 of title 10)’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘veteran’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘former member of the Armed 
Forces’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘veterans’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘former members of the Armed 
Forces’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(g) In this section, the term ‘former member of the 
Armed Forces’ includes the following: 
‘‘(1) A veteran described in section 101(2) of 
this title. 
‘‘(2) An individual not described in paragraph 
(1) who was discharged or released from the Armed 
Forces under a condition that is not honorable but 
not— 
‘‘(A) a dishonorable discharge; or 
‘‘(B) a discharge by court-martial.’’. 
SEC. 203. COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN 
VETERANS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712C 
the following new section:
‘‘§ 1712D. Counseling in retreat settings for women 
veterans and other individuals 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM.—(1) Commencing not later than 
January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall carry out, through 
the Readjustment Counseling Service of the Veterans 
Health Administration, a program to provide reintegration 
and readjustment services described in subsection (b) in 
group retreat settings to covered individuals, including co-
horts of women veterans who are eligible for readjustment 
counseling services under section 1712A of this title. 
‘‘(2) The participation of a covered individual in the 
program under paragraph (1) shall be at the election of 
the individual. 
‘‘(b) COVERED SERVICES.—The services provided to 
a covered individual under the program under subsection 
(a)(1) shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) Information on reintegration into the fam-
ily, employment, and community of the individual. 
‘‘(2) Financial counseling. 
‘‘(3) Occupational counseling. 
‘‘(4) Information and counseling on stress re-
duction. 
‘‘(5) Information and counseling on conflict res-
olution. 
‘‘(6) Such other information and counseling as 
the Secretary considers appropriate to assist the in-
dividual in reintegration into the family, employ-
ment, and community of the veteran. 
‘‘(c) BIENNIAL REPORTS.—Not later than December 
31, 2022, and each even-numbered year thereafter, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report on the program under subsection (a)(1). 
‘‘(d) COVERED INDIVIDUAL DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘covered individual’ means— 
‘‘(1) Any veteran who is enrolled in the system 
of annual patient enrollment under section 1705 of 
this title. 
‘‘(2) Any survivor or dependent of a veteran 
who is eligible for medical care under section 1781 
of this title.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1712C the following new 
item: 
‘‘1712D. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans and other individ-
uals.’’. 
SEC. 204. IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES PRO-
VIDED TO NEWBORN CHILDREN BY DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) EXPANSION.—Section 1786 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended—
‘‘(A) to another health care facility (including a 
specialty pediatric hospital) that accepts transfer of 
the newborn child or otherwise provides post-delivery 
care services when the treating facility is not capable 
of furnishing the care or services required; or 
‘‘(B) to a health care facility in a medical emer-
gency of such nature that a prudent layperson rea-
sonably expects that delay in seeking immediate 
medical attention would be hazardous to life or 
health. 
‘‘(3) Amounts paid by the Department for transpor-
tation under this section shall be derived from the Medical 
Services appropriations account of the Department. 
‘‘(d) REIMBURSEMENT OR PAYMENT FOR HEALTH 
CARE SERVICES OR TRANSPORTATION.—(1) Pursuant to 
regulations the Secretary shall prescribe to establish rates 
of reimbursement and any limitations thereto under this 
section, the Secretary shall directly reimburse a covered 
entity for health care services or transportation services 
provided under this section, unless the cost of the services 
or transportation is covered by an established agreement 
or contract. If such an agreement or contract exists, its 
negotiated payment terms shall apply. 
‘‘(2)(A) Reimbursement or payment by the Secretary 
under this section on behalf of an individual to a covered
entity shall, unless rejected and refunded by the covered 
entity within 30 days of receipt, extinguish any liability 
on the part of the individual for the health care services 
or transportation covered by such payment. 
‘‘(B) Neither the absence of a contract or agreement 
between the Secretary and a covered entity nor any provi-
sion of a contract, agreement, or assignment to the con-
trary shall operate to modify, limit, or negate the require-
ments of subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘covered entity’ 
means any individual, transportation carrier, organization, 
or other entity that furnished or paid for health care serv-
ices or transportation under this section. 
‘‘(e) EXCEPTION.—Pursuant to such regulations as 
the Secretary shall prescribe to carry out this section, the 
Secretary may furnish more than 14 days of health care 
services described in subsection (b), and transportation 
necessary to receive such services, to a newborn child 
based on medical necessity if the child is in need of addi-
tional care, including a case in which the newborn child 
has been discharged or released from a hospital and re-
quires readmittance to ensure the health and welfare of 
the newborn child.’’. 
(c) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN EXPENSES ALREADY 
INCURRED.—Pursuant to such regulations as the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe, the Secretary 
may provide reimbursement under section 1786 of title 38, 
United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), health 
care services or transportation services furnished to a new-
born child during the period beginning on May 5, 2010, 
and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, if 
the Secretary determines that, under the circumstances 
applicable with respect to the newborn, such reimburse-
ment appropriate. 
TITLE III—REPORTS AND OTHER 
MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Reports 
SEC. 301. ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF INTIMATE PART-
NER VIOLENCE ON WOMEN VETERANS BY AD-
VISORY COMMITTEE ON WOMEN VETERANS. 
Section 542(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (D); and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph (C): 
‘‘(C) an assessment of the effects of inti-
mate partner violence on women veterans; and’’.
SEC. 302. STUDY ON STAFFING OF WOMEN VETERAN PRO-
GRAM MANAGER PROGRAM AT MEDICAL 
CENTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS AND TRAINING OF STAFF. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
conduct a study on the use of the Women Veteran Pro-
gram Manager program of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to determine— 
(1) if the program is appropriately staffed at 
each medical center of the Department; 
(2) whether each medical center of the Depart-
ment is staffed with a Women Veteran Program 
Manager; and 
(3) whether it would be feasible and advisable 
to have a Women Veteran Program Ombudsman at 
each medical center of the Department. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the study conducted under sub-
section (a). 
(c) TRAINING.—The Secretary shall ensure that all 
Women Veteran Program Managers and Women Veteran 
Program Ombudsmen receive the proper training to carry 
out their duties.
SEC. 303. REPORT ON AVAILABILITY OF PROSTHETIC 
ITEMS FOR WOMEN VETERANS FROM THE 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the availability from the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs of prosthetic items made for 
women veterans, including an assessment of the avail-
ability of such prosthetic items at each medical facility of 
the Department. The report shall— 
(1) address efforts on research, development, 
and employment of additive manufacture technology 
(commonly referred to as ‘‘3D printing’’) to provide 
prosthetic items for women veterans; and 
(2) include a survey with a representative sam-
ple of 50,000 veterans (of which women shall be 
overrrepresented) in amputee care program on satis-
faction with prosthetics furnished or procured by the 
Department that replace appendages or their func-
tion.
SEC. 304. STUDY OF BARRIERS FOR WOMEN VETERANS TO 
HEALTH CARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall conduct a comprehensive study of the bar-
riers to the provision of comprehensive health care by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs encountered by women 
who are veterans. In conducting the study, the Secretary 
shall— 
(1) survey women veterans who seek or receive 
hospital care or medical services provided by the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs as well as women vet-
erans who do not seek or receive such care or serv-
ices; 
(2) administer the survey to a representative 
sample of women veterans from each Veterans Inte-
grated Service Network; and 
(3) ensure that the sample of women veterans 
surveyed is of sufficient size for the study results to 
be statistically significant and is a larger sample 
than that of the study referred to in subsection 
(b)(1). 
(b) USE OF PREVIOUS STUDIES.—In conducting the 
study required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall build 
on the work of the studies of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs titled—
(1) ‘‘National Survey of Women Veterans in 
Fiscal Year 2007–2008’’; and 
(2) ‘‘Study of Barriers for Women Veterans to 
VA Health Care 2015’’. 
(c) ELEMENTS OF STUDY.—In conducting the study 
required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct re-
search on the effects of the following on the women vet-
erans surveyed in the study: 
(1) The barriers associated with seeking mental 
health care services, including with respect to pro-
vider availability, telehealth access, and family, 
work, and school obligations. 
(2) The effect of driving distance or availability 
of other forms of transportation to the nearest med-
ical facility on access to care. 
(3) The effect of access to care in the commu-
nity. 
(4) The availability of child care. 
(5) The acceptability of integrated primary 
care, women’s health clinics, or both. 
(6) The comprehension of eligibility require-
ments for, and the scope of services available under, 
hospital care and medical services.
(7) The perception of personal safety and com-
fort in inpatient, outpatient, and behavioral health 
facilities. 
(8) The gender sensitivity of health care pro-
viders and staff to issues that particularly affect 
women. 
(9) The effectiveness of outreach for health care 
services available to women veterans. 
(10) The location and operating hours of health 
care facilities that provide services to women vet-
erans. 
(11) The perception of women veterans regard-
ing the motto of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
(12) Such other significant barriers as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
(d) DISCHARGE BY CONTRACT.—The Secretary shall 
enter into a contract with a qualified independent entity 
or organization to carry out the study and research re-
quired under this section. 
(e) MANDATORY REVIEW OF DATA BY CERTAIN DE-
PARTMENT DIVISIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that the head of each division of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs specified in paragraph (2) reviews
the results of the study conducted under this sec-
tion. The head of each such division shall submit 
findings with respect to the study to the Under Sec-
retary for responsibilities relating to health care 
services for women veterans. 
(2) SPECIFIED DIVISIONS.—The divisions of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs specified in this 
paragraph are the following: 
(A) The Under Secretary for Health. 
(B) The Office of Women’s Health. 
(C) The Center for Women Veterans estab-
lished under section 318 of title 38, United 
States Code. 
(D) The Advisory Committee on Women 
Veterans established under section 542 of such 
title. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 30 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to Congress a report on the study required under this 
section. The report shall include recommendations for 
such administrative and legislative action as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. The report shall also include the 
findings of the head of each division of the Department 
specified under subsection (e)(2) and of the Under Sec-
retary for Health.
SEC. 305. REPORT REGARDING VETERANS WHO RECEIVE 
BENEFITS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY 
THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall publish a report regarding veterans who re-
ceive benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, 
including the Transition Assistance Program under sec-
tions 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code. 
(b) DATA.—The data regarding veterans published in 
the report under subsection (a)— 
(1) shall be disaggregated by— 
(A) sex; 
(B) minority group member status; and 
(C) minority group member status listed 
by sex. 
(2) may not include any personally identifiable 
information. 
(c) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The report under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) identification of any disparities in the use of 
benefits under laws administered by the Secretary; 
and 
(2) an analysis of the cause of such disparities 
and recommendations to address such disparities.
(d) MINORITY GROUP MEMBER DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘minority group member’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 544 of title 38, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 306. STUDY ON WOMEN VETERAN COORDINATOR PRO-
GRAM. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a report con-
taining a study on the Women Veteran Coordinator pro-
gram of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs. Such study shall identify 
the following: 
(1) If the program is appropriately staffed at 
each regional benefits office of the Department. 
(2) Whether each regional benefits office of the 
Department is staffed with a Women Veteran Coor-
dinator. 
(3) The position description of the Women Vet-
eran Coordinator. 
(4) Whether an individual serving in the 
Women Veteran Coordinator position concurrently 
serves in any other position, and if so, the allocation 
of time the individual spends in each such position.
(5) A description of the metrics the Secretary 
uses to determine the success and performance of 
the Women Veteran Coordinator. 
Subtitle B—Other Matters 
SEC. 321. ANTI-HARASSMENT AND ANTI-SEXUAL ASSAULT 
POLICY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 533. Anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault pol-
icy 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish a comprehensive policy to end har-
assment and sexual assault, including sexual harassment 
and gender-based harassment, throughout the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. This policy shall include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) A process for employees and contractors of 
the Department to respond to reported incidents of 
harassment and sexual assault committed by any 
non-Department individual within a facility of the 
Department, including with respect to accountability 
or disciplinary measures.
‘‘(2) A process for employees and contractors of 
the Department to respond to reported incidents of 
harassment and sexual assault of any non-Depart-
ment individual within a facility of the Department. 
‘‘(3) A process for any non-Department indi-
vidual to report harassment and sexual assault de-
scribed in paragraph (1), including an option for 
confidential reporting, and for the Secretary to re-
spond to and address such reports. 
‘‘(4) Clear mechanisms for non-Department in-
dividuals to readily identify to whom and how to re-
port incidents of harassment and sexual assault 
committed by another non-Department individual. 
‘‘(5) Clear mechanisms for employees and con-
tractors of the Department to readily identify to 
whom and how to report incidents of harassment 
and sexual assault and how to refer non-Department 
individuals with respect to reporting an incident of 
harassment or sexual assault. 
‘‘(6) A process for, and mandatory reporting re-
quirement applicable to, any employee or contractor 
of the Department who witnesses harassment or sex-
ual assault described in paragraph (1) or (2) within 
a facility of the Department, regardless of whether 
the individual affected by such harassment or sexual
assault wants to report such harassment or sexual 
assault. 
‘‘(7) The actions possible, including disciplinary 
actions, for employees or contractors of the Depart-
ment who fail to report incidents of harassment and 
sexual assault described in paragraph (1) or (2) that 
the employees or contractors witness. 
‘‘(8) On an annual or more frequent basis, 
mandatory training for employees and contractors of 
the Department regarding how to report and ad-
dress harassment and sexual assault described in 
paragraphs (1) and (2), including bystander inter-
vention training. 
‘‘(9) On an annual or more frequent basis, the 
distribution of the policy under this subsection and 
anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault educational 
materials by mail or email to each individual receiv-
ing a benefit under a law administered by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(10) The prominent display of anti-harass-
ment and anti-sexual assault messages in each facil-
ity of the Department, including how non-Depart-
ment individuals may report harassment and sexual 
assault described in paragraphs (1) and (2) at such
facility and the points of contact under subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(11) The posting on internet websites of the 
Department, including the main internet website re-
garding benefits of the Department and the main 
internet website regarding health care of the Depart-
ment, of anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault 
banners specifically addressing harassment and sex-
ual assault described in paragraphs (1) and (2). 
‘‘(b) POINTS OF CONTACT.—The Secretary shall des-
ignate, as a point of contact to receive reports of harass-
ment and sexual assault described in paragraphs (1) and 
(2) of subsection (a)— 
‘‘(1) at least one individual, in addition to law 
enforcement, at each facility of the Department (in-
cluding Vet Centers under section 1712A of this 
title), with regard to that facility; 
‘‘(2) at least one individual employed in each 
Veterans Integrated Service Network, with regards 
to facilities in that Veterans Integrated Service Net-
work; 
‘‘(3) at least one individual employed in each 
regional benefits office; 
‘‘(4) at least one individual employed at each lo-
cation of the National Cemetery Administration; and
‘‘(5) at least one individual employed at the 
Central Office of the Department to track reports of 
such harassment and sexual assault across the De-
partment, disaggregated by facility. 
‘‘(c) ACCOUNTABILITY.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a policy to ensure that each facility of the Department 
and each director of a Veterans Integrated Service Net-
work is responsible for addressing harassment and sexual 
assault at the facility and the Network. Such policy shall 
include— 
‘‘(1) a remediation plan for facilities that expe-
rience five or more incidents of sexual harassment, 
sexual assault, or combination thereof, during any 
single fiscal year; and 
‘‘(2) taking appropriate actions under chapter 7 
or subchapter V of chapter 74 of this title. 
‘‘(d) DATA.—The Secretary shall ensure that the in- 
take process for veterans at medical facilities of the De-
partment includes a survey to collect the following infor-
mation: 
‘‘(1) Whether the veteran feels safe at the facil-
ity and whether any events occurred at the facility 
that affect such feeling.
‘‘(2) Whether the veteran wants to be contacted 
later by the Department with respect to such safety 
issues. 
‘‘(e) WORKING GROUP.—(1) The Secretary shall es-
tablish a working group to assist the Secretary in imple-
menting policies to carry out this section. 
‘‘(2) The working group established under paragraph 
(1) shall consist of representatives from— 
‘‘(A) veterans service organizations; 
‘‘(B) State, local, and Tribal veterans agencies; 
and 
‘‘(C) other persons the Secretary determines 
appropriate. 
‘‘(3) The working group established under paragraph 
(1) shall develop, and the Secretary shall carry out— 
‘‘(A) an action plan for addressing changes at 
the local level to reduce instances of harassment and 
sexual assault; 
‘‘(B) standardized media for veterans service 
organizations and other persons to use in print and 
on the internet with respect to reducing harassment 
and sexual assault; and 
‘‘(C) bystander intervention training for vet-
erans.
‘‘(f) REPORTS.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives an annual report on harassment 
and sexual assault described in paragraphs (1) and (2) 
of subsection (a) in facilities of the Department. Each 
such report shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) Results of harassment and sexual assault 
programming, including the End Harassment pro-
gram. 
‘‘(2) Results of studies from the Women’s 
Health Practice-Based Research Network of the De-
partment relating to harassment and sexual assault. 
‘‘(3) Data collected on incidents of sexual har-
assment and sexual assault. 
‘‘(4) A description of any actions taken by the 
Secretary during the year preceding the date of the 
report to stop harassment and sexual assault at fa-
cilities of the Department. 
‘‘(5) An assessment of the implementation of 
the training required in subsection (a)(7). 
‘‘(6) A list of resources the Secretary deter-
mines necessary to prevent harassment and sexual 
assault at facilities of the Department. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) The term ‘non-Department individual’ 
means any individual present at a facility of the De-
partment who is not an employee or contractor of 
the Department. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘sexual harassment’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 1720D of this 
title.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
after the item relating to section 532 the following new 
item: 
‘‘533. Anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault policy.’’. 
(c) DEFINITION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.—Section 
1720D(f) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘repeated,’’. 
(d) DEADLINE.—The Secretary shall commence car-
rying out section 533 of such title, as added by subsection 
(a), not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 322. SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A 
FOCUS 
ON 
PROVIDING 
ASSISTANCE 
TO 
WOMEN VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. 
Section 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(4) There is authorized to be appropriated 
$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 to provide, under
subsection (a), financial assistance to organizations 
that have a focus on providing assistance to women 
veterans and their families.’’. 
SEC. 323. GAP ANALYSIS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ASSIST-
ANCE TO WOMEN VETERANS WHO ARE HOME-
LESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall complete an analysis of programs of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs that provide assistance to women vet-
erans who are homeless or precariously housed to identify 
the areas in which such programs are failing to meet the 
needs of such women. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the analysis completed under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 324. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PUBLIC- 
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ON LEGAL SERVICES 
FOR WOMEN VETERANS. 
(a) PARTNERSHIP REQUIRED.—The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall establish a partnership with at least
one nongovernmental organization to provide legal services 
to women veterans. 
(b) FOCUS.—The focus of the partnership established 
under subsection (a) shall be on the 10 highest unmet 
needs of women veterans as set forth in the most recently 
completed Community Homelessness Assessment, Local 
Education 
and 
Networking 
Groups 
for 
Veterans 
(CHALENG for Veterans) survey. 
SEC. 325. PROGRAM TO ASSIST VETERANS WHO EXPERI-
ENCE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE OR SEX-
UAL ASSAULT. 
(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall carry out a program to assist former 
members of the armed forces who have experienced or are 
experiencing intimate partner violence or sexual assault in 
accessing benefits from the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs, including coordinating access to medical treatment 
centers, housing assistance, and other benefits from the 
Department. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—The Secretary shall carry out 
the program under subsection (a) in collaboration with— 
(1) intimate partner violence shelters and pro-
grams; 
(2) rape crisis centers;
(3) State intimate partner violence and sexual 
assault coalitions; and 
(4) such other health care or other service pro-
viders that serve intimate partner violence or sexual 
assault victims as determined by the Secretary, par-
ticularly those providing emergency services or hous-
ing assistance. 
(c) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the 
program under subsection (a), the Secretary may conduct 
the following activities: 
(1) Training for community-based intimate 
partner violence or sexual assault service providers 
on— 
(A) identifying former members of the 
Armed Forces who have been victims of inti-
mate partner violence or sexual assault; 
(B) coordinating with local service pro-
viders of the Department; and 
(C) connecting former members of the 
Armed Forces with appropriate housing, mental 
health, medical, and other financial assistance 
or benefits from the Department. 
(2) Assistance to service providers to ensure ac-
cess of veterans to intimate partner violence and 
sexual assault emergency services, particularly in un-
derserved areas, including services for Native Amer-
ican veterans (as defined in section 3765 of title 38, 
United States Code). 
(3) Such other outreach and assistance as the 
Secretary determines necessary for the provision of 
assistance under subsection (a). 
(d) INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL AS-
SAULT OUTREACH COORDINATORS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to effectively assist 
veterans who have experienced intimate partner vio-
lence or sexual assault, the Secretary may establish 
local coordinators to provide outreach under the pro-
gram required by subsection (a). 
(2) LOCAL
COORDINATOR
KNOWLEDGE.—The 
Secretary shall ensure that each coordinator estab-
lished under paragraph (1) is knowledgeable about— 
(A) the dynamics of intimate partner vio-
lence and sexual assault, including safety con-
cerns, legal protections, and the need for the 
provision of confidential services; 
(B) the eligibility of veterans for services 
and benefits from the Department that are rel-
evant to recovery from intimate partner violence 
and sexual assault, particularly emergency
housing assistance, mental health care, other 
health care, and disability benefits; and 
(C) local community resources addressing 
intimate partner violence and sexual assault. 
(3) LOCAL COORDINATOR ASSISTANCE.—Each 
coordinator established under paragraph (1) shall 
assist intimate partner violence shelters and rape 
crisis centers in providing services to veterans. 
SEC. 326. STUDY AND TASK FORCE ON VETERANS EXPERI-
ENCING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE OR 
SEXUAL ASSAULT. 
(a) NATIONAL BASELINE STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Attor-
ney General, shall conduct a national baseline study 
to examine the scope of the problem of intimate 
partner violence and sexual assault among veterans 
and spouses and intimate partners of veterans. 
(2) MATTERS
INCLUDED.—The study under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) include a literature review of all rel-
evant research on intimate partner violence and 
sexual assault among veterans and spouses and 
intimate partners of veterans;
(B) examine the prevalence of the experi-
ence of intimate partner violence among— 
(i) women veterans; 
(ii) veterans who are minority group 
members (as defined in section 544 of title 
38, United States Code, and including 
other minority populations as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate); 
(iii) urban and rural veterans; 
(iv) veterans who are enrolled in a 
program under section 1720G of title 38, 
United States Code; 
(v) veterans who are in intimate rela-
tionships with other veterans; and 
(vi) veterans who are described in 
more than one clause of this subparagraph; 
(C) examine the prevalence of the per-
petration of intimate partner violence by vet-
erans; and 
(D) include recommendations to address 
the findings of the study. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date on which the Secretary completes the study 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate a report on such 
study. 
(b) TASK FORCE.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date on which the Secretary completes the study under 
subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with the At-
torney General and the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, shall establish a national task force (in this sec-
tion referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’) to develop a com-
prehensive national program, including by integrating fa-
cilities, services, and benefits of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs into existing networks of community-based 
intimate partner violence and sexual assault services, to 
address intimate partner violence and sexual assault 
among veterans. 
(c) CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS.—In car-
rying out this section, the Task Force shall consult with— 
(1) representatives from veteran service organi-
zations and military service organizations; 
(2) representatives from not fewer than three 
national organizations or State coalitions with dem-
onstrated expertise in intimate partner violence pre-
vention, response, or advocacy; and 
(3) representatives from not fewer than three 
national organizations or State coalitions, particu-
larly those representing underserved and ethnic mi-
(5) To review and make recommendations re-
garding the feasibility and advisability of providing 
direct services or contracting for community-based 
services for veterans in response to a sexual assault, 
including through the use of sexual assault nurse ex-
aminers, particularly in underserved or remote 
areas, including services for Native American vet-
erans. 
(6) To review the availability of counseling serv-
ices provided by the Department and through peer 
network support, and to provide recommendations 
for the enhancement of such services, to address— 
(A) the perpetration of intimate partner vi-
olence and sexual assault; and 
(B) the recovery of veterans, particularly 
women veterans, from intimate partner violence 
and sexual assault. 
(7) To review and make recommendations to 
expand services available for veterans at risk of per-
petrating intimate partner violence. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
annually thereafter by October 1 of each year, the Task 
Force shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
and Congress a report on the activities of the Task Force,
including any recommendations for legislative or adminis-
trative action. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘Native American veteran’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 3765 of title 
38, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘State’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 101 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
Passed the House of Representatives November 12, 
2019. 
Attest: 
Clerk.