I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5203 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update directives of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs regarding the management of acute sexual 
assault, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 
Ms. MORRISON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update direc-
tives of the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding 
the management of acute sexual assault, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. DIRECTIVES REGARDING THE MANAGEMENT 
OF ACUTE SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) UPDATE.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall update directives of the Department 
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of Veterans Affairs regarding emergency management of 
an acute sexual assault of a covered veteran, and ensure 
that the policies, of each medical facility, and of police, 
of the Department conform to such directive. Elements of 
such directives and policies shall include the following: 
(1) Updated policies and guidance for all em-
ployees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who 
respond to covered veterans. 
(2) A requirement that the director of a medical 
facility of the Department— 
(A) employs a certified SAFE clinical pro-
vider or a SANE certified through curricula 
such as those developed by the International 
Association of Forensic Nurses; 
(B) refers, pursuant to section 1703 of 
title 38, United States Code, covered veterans 
to a local non-Department health care provider 
that employs a certified SAFE clinical provider 
or a SANE; or 
(C) coordinates with the Under Secretary 
for Health and the Director of the Veteran In-
tegrated Service Network concerned regarding 
alternate plans of care for covered veterans at 
such facility. 
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(3) Requirements in the emergency medicine 
and urgent care directives of the Veterans Health 
Administration that a medical facility of the Depart-
ment that employs a certified SAFE clinical provider 
or a SANE maintains a supply of unexpired rape 
kits. 
(4) If clinically indicated, a covered veteran 
shall be offered prophylaxes for sexually transmitted 
disease and for pregnancy. If so indicated, the per-
sonnel of the facility shall provide, to the health care 
providers of the facility who treat the covered vet-
eran, clinical practice guidelines or clinical order 
sets. 
(5) Each covered veteran shall be offered local 
mental health care counseling or a referral to a men-
tal health care provider. If such referral is to a non- 
Department provider, an appropriate employee of 
the Department facility shall coordinate care with 
the non-Department provider. 
(6) Clear guidance regarding when and how a 
police officer of the Department shall document the 
notification of a local law enforcement agency of an 
acute sexual assault of a covered veteran. Such guid-
ance shall balance the confidentiality of a covered 
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veteran with Federal, State, and local reporting re-
quirements. 
(b) TRAINING.— 
(1) FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE VHA.—Not less 
than once each year after the Secretary updates di-
rectives under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
provide, to appropriate employees of the Veterans 
Health Administration, training regarding the direc-
tives and policies updated in accordance with para-
graphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a). 
(2) FOR POLICE OFFICERS OF THE DEPART-
MENT.—Not less than once each year after the Sec-
retary updates directives under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall provide, to each police officer of the 
Department, a training regarding the guidance 
under paragraph (6) of subsection (a) and devel-
oped— 
(A) by the Director of the Office of Secu-
rity and Law Enforcement of the Department; 
and 
(B) in accordance with trauma-informed 
sexual assault investigation curricula, such as 
ones provided by the International Association 
of Chiefs of Police; and 
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