I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5707 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to improve 
the treatment of members of the Armed Forces for post-traumatic stress 
disorder relating to military sexual trauma. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 8, 2018 
Mr. KNIGHT (for himself and Ms. TSONGAS) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot 
program to improve the treatment of members of the 
Armed Forces for post-traumatic stress disorder relating 
to military sexual trauma. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Sexual Trauma Re-
sponse and Treatment Act’’ or the ‘‘START Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON TREATMENT OF MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES FOR POST-TRAUMATIC 
STRESS DISORDER RELATED TO MILITARY 
SEXUAL TRAUMA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may 
carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and ad-
visability of using intensive outpatient programs to treat 
members of the Armed Forces suffering from post-trau-
matic stress disorder resulting from military sexual trau-
ma, including treatment for substance abuse, depression, 
and other issues related to such conditions. 
(b) DISCHARGE
THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS.—The 
pilot program authorized by subsection (a) shall be carried 
out through partnerships with public, private, and non- 
profit health care organizations and institutions that— 
(1) provide health care to members of the 
Armed Forces; 
(2) provide evidence-based treatment for psy-
chological and neurological conditions that are com-
mon among members of the Armed Forces, includ-
ing post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain 
injury, substance abuse, and depression; 
(3) provide health care, support, and other ben-
efits to family members of members of the Armed 
Forces; and 
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(4) provide health care under the TRICARE 
program (as that term is defined in section 1072 of 
title 10, United States Code). 
(c) PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.—Each organization or in-
stitution that participates in a partnership under the pilot 
program authorized by subsection (a) shall— 
(1) carry out intensive outpatient programs of 
short duration to treat members of the Armed 
Forces suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder 
resulting from military sexual trauma, including 
treatment for substance abuse, depression, and other 
issues related to such conditions; 
(2) use evidence-based and evidence-informed 
treatment strategies in carrying out such programs; 
(3) share clinical and outreach best practices 
with other organizations and institutions partici-
pating in the pilot program; and 
(4) annually assess outcomes for members of 
the Armed Forces individually and among the orga-
nizations and institutions participating in the pilot 
program with respect to the treatment of conditions 
described in paragraph (1). 
(d) EVALUATION METRICS.—Before commencement 
of the pilot program, the Secretary shall establish metrics 
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to be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot pro-
gram and the activities under the pilot program. 
(e) REPORTS.— 
(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives a report on the pilot program authorized by 
subsection (a). The report shall include a description 
of the pilot program and such other matters on the 
pilot program as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the cessation of the pilot program under sub-
section (f), the Secretary shall submit to the com-
mittees of Congress referred to in paragraph (1) a 
report on the pilot program. The report shall include 
the following: 
(A) A description of the pilot program, in-
cluding the partnership under the pilot program 
as described in subsection (b). 
(B) An assessment of the effectiveness of 
the pilot program and the activities under the 
pilot program. 
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(C) Such recommendations for legislative 
or administrative action as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate in light of the pilot program, 
including recommendations for extension or 
making permanent the authority for the pilot 
program. 
(f) TERMINATION.—The Secretary may not carry out 
the pilot program authorized by subsection (a) after the 
date that is three years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
Æ 
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