Ruth Moore Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-671
Sponsor: Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Introduced: 2013-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crimes against women
Disability assistance
Evidence and witnesses
Mental health
Sex offenses
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: 
Ruth Moore Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), in any case in which a veteran claims that a covered mental health condition was incurred in or aggravated by military sexual trauma during active duty, to accept as sufficient proof of service-connection a diagnosis by a mental health professional together with satisfactory lay or other evidence of such trauma and an opinion by the mental health professional that such condition is related to such trauma, if consistent with the circumstances, conditions, or hardships of such service, notwithstanding the fact that there is no official record of such incurrence or aggravation in such service, and to resolve every reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran. Allows such service-connection to be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.
 
Includes as a &quot;covered mental health condition&quot; post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health diagnosis that the Secretary determines to be related to military sexual trauma.
 
Requires the Secretary to report annually to Congress in each of 2014 through 2018 on covered claims submitted.

action_date: 2013-05-17
text: 
Ruth Moore Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress in each of 2014 through 2018 on claims submitted for disabilities based on a covered mental health condition alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma during active duty. Includes as a covered mental health condition post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, or any other mental health diagnosis that the Secretary determines to be related to military sexual trauma.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should update and improve VA regulations with respect to military sexual trauma by: (1) ensuring that it is specified as an in-service stressor in determining the service-connection of PTSD, and (2) recognizing the full range of physical and mental disabilities that can result from such trauma. Requires each veteran submitting such a claim to be provided the most recently updated regulations concerning such trauma, as well as other information designed to aid such claims.
 
Extends until FY2019 the required rounding to the nearest dollar of VA basic educational assistance and survivors' and dependents' educational assistance.

action_date: 2013-06-04
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 17, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 
 
Ruth Moore Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress in each of 2014 through 2018 on claims submitted for disabilities based on a covered mental health condition alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma during active duty. Includes as a covered mental health condition post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, or any other mental health diagnosis that the Secretary determines to be related to military sexual trauma.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should update and improve VA regulations with respect to military sexual trauma by: (1) ensuring that it is specified as an in-service stressor in determining the service-connection of PTSD, and (2) recognizing the full range of physical and mental disabilities that can result from such trauma. Requires each veteran submitting such a claim to be provided the most recently updated regulations concerning such trauma, as well as other information designed to aid such claims.
 
Extends until FY2019 the required rounding to the nearest dollar of VA basic educational assistance and survivors' and dependents' educational assistance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-06
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-06-04
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2013-06-04
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2013-06-04
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3029-3030)
action_date: 2013-06-04
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3029-3030)
action_date: 2013-06-04
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 671.
action_date: 2013-06-04
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3029-3032)
action_date: 2013-06-04
text: Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2013-05-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 38.
action_date: 2013-05-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 113-63.
action_date: 2013-05-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 113-63.
action_date: 2013-05-08
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2013-05-08
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-04-25
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2013-04-25
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-04-16
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2013-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in House