I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 79 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain abused dependents 
of veterans with health care. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 5, 2011 
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas 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. 
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 ‘‘Dependent Care Act 
of 2011’’. 
SEC. 2. HEALTH CARE FOR CERTAIN DEPENDENTS WHO 
ARE VICTIMS OF ABUSE. 
(a) PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1787. Health care for certain dependents who are 
victims of abuse 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 1781 
of this title, the Secretary shall provide health care to a 
victim of abuse described in subsection (b) for physical 
and mental injuries resulting from such abuse. 
‘‘(b) VICTIM OF ABUSE.—A victim of abuse described 
in this subsection is an individual who— 
‘‘(1) is a spouse, child, or dependent parent of 
a veteran who— 
‘‘(A) is enrolled to receive care under sec-
tion 1710 of this title; and 
‘‘(B) has been diagnosed with post-trau-
matic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury; 
‘‘(2) has been physically or psychologically 
abused by the veteran described in paragraph (1), as 
verified by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(3) is not— 
‘‘(A) eligible for medical coverage (other 
than under this section) under a program of the 
Federal Government or a State government; or 
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‘‘(B) covered by a private medical insur-
ance policy. 
‘‘(c) MENTAL HEALTH.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that health care provided under this section includes men-
tal health care as appropriate.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 1786 
the following new item: 
‘‘1787. Health care for certain dependents who are victims of abuse.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1781(a) of 
such title is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘, and’’ and 
inserting a comma; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the semicolon 
and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) a victim of abuse under section 1787 of 
this title;’’. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate a report addressing any 
challenges or concerns of the Secretary in verifying phys-
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ical or psychological abuse pursuant to section 1787(b)(2) 
of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a). 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this Act shall take effect on the date that is 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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