Title: CARE for Reservists Act of 2019
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Care And Readiness Enhancement for Reservists Act of 2019 or the CARE for Reservists Act of 2019
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide counseling without referral to any member of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who has a behavioral health condition or psychological trauma. Such counseling may include a comprehensive individual assessment, and outpatient services shall also be available.
The bill authorizes the VA to furnish mental health services to reservists.
The bill also expands specified VA programs to include reservists for the provision of (1) comprehensive suicide prevention, and (2) mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified missions.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 711 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 711

To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for mental 
  health services from the Department of Veterans Affairs to include 
 members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 7, 2019

  Mr. Tester (for himself, Mr. Moran, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Sullivan, Ms. 
    Hassan, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. Sanders) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for mental 
  health services from the Department of Veterans Affairs to include 
 members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Care and Readiness Enhancement for 
Reservists Act of 2019'' or the ``CARE for Reservists Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELING AND 
              RELATED OUTPATIENT SERVICES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE 
              COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

    (a) Readjustment Counseling.--Subsection (a)(1) of section 1712A of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph:
    ``(D)(i) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Defense, may furnish to any member of the reserve components of the 
Armed Forces who has a behavioral health condition or psychological 
trauma, counseling under subparagraph (A)(i), which may include a 
comprehensive individual assessment under subparagraph (B)(i).
    ``(ii) A member of the reserve components of the Armed Forces 
described in clause (i) shall not be required to obtain a referral 
before being furnished counseling or an assessment under this 
subparagraph.''.
    (b) Outpatient Services.--Subsection (b) of such section is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by inserting ``to an individual'' after ``If, 
                on the basis of the assessment furnished''; and
                    (B) by striking ``veteran'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``individual''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``veteran'' and inserting 
        ``individual''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 3. PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS TO MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF 
              THE ARMED FORCES.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1789. Mental health services for members of the reserve 
              components of the Armed Forces
    ``The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, may 
furnish mental health services to members of the reserve components of 
the Armed Forces.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1788 the following new item:

``1789. Mental health services for members of the reserve components of 
                            the Armed Forces.''.

SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH 
              PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Suicide Prevention Program.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1720F of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(l)(1) Covered Individual Defined.--In this section, the term 
`covered individual' means a veteran or a member of the reserve 
components of the Armed Forces.
    ``(2) In determining coverage of members of the reserve components 
of the Armed Forces under the comprehensive program, the Secretary 
shall consult with the Secretary of Defense.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--Such section is further 
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``veterans'' and 
                inserting ``covered individuals'';
                    (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``veterans'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``covered 
                individuals'';
                    (C) in subsection (c)--
                            (i) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                        ``of Veterans'';
                            (ii) by striking ``veterans'' each place it 
                        appears and inserting ``covered individuals''; 
                        and
                            (iii) by striking ``veteran'' and inserting 
                        ``individual'';
                    (D) in subsection (d), by striking ``to veterans'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``to covered 
                individuals'';
                    (E) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding 
                paragraph (1), by striking ``veterans'' and inserting 
                ``covered individuals'';
                    (F) in subsection (f)--
                            (i) in the first sentence, by striking 
                        ``veterans'' and inserting ``covered 
                        individuals''; and
                            (ii) in the second sentence, by inserting 
                        ``or members'' after ``veterans'';
                    (G) in subsection (g), by striking ``veterans'' and 
                inserting ``covered individuals'';
                    (H) in subsection (h), by striking ``veterans'' and 
                inserting ``covered individuals'';
                    (I) in subsection (i)--
                            (i) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                        ``for Veterans and Families'';
                            (ii) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
                        by striking ``veterans and the families of 
                        veterans'' and inserting ``covered individuals 
                        and the families of covered individuals'';
                            (iii) in paragraph (2), by striking 
                        ``veterans'' and inserting ``covered 
                        individuals''; and
                            (iv) in paragraph (4), by striking 
                        ``veterans'' each place it appears and 
                        inserting ``covered individuals'';
                    (J) in subsection (j)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                        ``veterans'' each place it appears and 
                        inserting ``covered individuals''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (4)--
                                    (I) in subparagraph (A), in the 
                                matter preceding clause (i), by 
                                striking ``women veterans'' and 
                                inserting ``covered individuals who are 
                                women'';
                                    (II) in subparagraph (B), by 
                                striking ``women veterans who'' and 
                                inserting ``covered individuals who are 
                                women and''; and
                                    (III) in subparagraph (C), by 
                                striking ``women veterans'' and 
                                inserting ``covered individuals who are 
                                women''; and
                    (K) in subsection (k), by striking ``veterans'' and 
                inserting ``covered individuals''.
            (3) Clerical amendments.--
                    (A) In general.--Such section is further amended, 
                in the section heading, by inserting ``and members of 
                the reserve components of the armed forces'' after 
                ``veterans''.
                    (B) Table of sections.--The table of sections at 
                the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by 
                striking the item relating to section 1720F and 
                inserting the following new item:

``1720F. Comprehensive program for suicide prevention among veterans 
                            and members of the reserve components of 
                            the Armed Forces.''.
    (b) Mental Health Treatment for Individuals Who Served in 
Classified Missions.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1720H of such title is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1)--
                                    (I) by striking ``eligible 
                                veteran'' and inserting ``eligible 
                                individual''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``the veteran'' 
                                and inserting ``the individual''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking 
                        ``eligible veterans'' and inserting ``eligible 
                        individuals'';
                    (B) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) by striking ``a veteran'' and inserting 
                        ``an individual''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``eligible veteran'' and 
                        inserting ``eligible individual''; and
                    (C) in subsection (c)--
                            (i) in paragraph (2), in the matter 
                        preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``The 
                        term `eligible veteran' means a veteran'' and 
                        inserting ``The term `eligible individual' 
                        means a veteran or a member of the reserve 
                        components of the Armed Forces''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking 
                        ``eligible veteran'' and inserting ``eligible 
                        individual''.
            (2) Clerical amendments.--
                    (A) In general.--Such section is further amended, 
                in the section heading, by inserting ``and members of 
                the reserve components of the armed forces'' after 
                ``veterans''.
                    (B) Table of sections.--The table of sections at 
                the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by 
                striking the item relating to section 1720H and 
                inserting the following new item:

``1720H. Mental health treatment for veterans and members of the 
                            reserve components of the Armed Forces who 
                            served in classified missions.''.

SEC. 5. REPORT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATED SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
              FORCES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a 
report that includes an assessment of the following:
            (1) The increase, as compared to the day before the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, of the number of members of the 
        Armed Forces that use readjustment counseling or outpatient 
        mental health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
        disaggregated by State, Vet Center location, and clinical care 
        site of the Department, as appropriate.
            (2) The number of members of the reserve components of the 
        Armed Forces receiving telemental health care from the 
        Department.
            (3) The increase, as compared to the day before the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, of the annual cost associated with 
        readjustment counseling and outpatient mental health care 
        provided by the Department to members of the reserve components 
        of the Armed Forces.
            (4) The changes, as compared to the day before the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, in staffing, training, organization, 
        and resources required for the Department to offer readjustment 
        counseling and outpatient mental health care to members of the 
        reserve components of the Armed Forces.
            (5) Any challenges the Department has encountered in 
        providing readjustment counseling and outpatient mental health 
        care to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
    (b) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term ``Vet Center'' 
has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of title 38, United 
States Code.
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