Ruth Moore Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1607
Sponsor: Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Introduced: 2015-03-25 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: 2015-03-25
text: 

Ruth Moore Act of 2015

 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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: (1) 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 (2) 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 2016 through 2020 on covered claims submitted.

action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Ruth Moore Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress, by December 1, 2015 and each year thereafter through 2019, on claims submitted during the previous fiscal year for disability compensation based on a covered mental health condition alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma (covered claims). 
 
Each report shall include: 
 
 
the number of covered claims submitted or considered; 
 
the number and percentage of such claims submitted by each sex, and the number of claims approved or denied; 
 
the number and percentage, listed by each sex, of approved covered claims assigned to each rating percentage; 
 
the three most common reasons for denial of covered claims, and the number of denials based on the veteran's failure to report for a medical examination; 
 
the number of covered claims pending and the number on appeal; 
 
the average number of days that covered claims take to complete; and 
 
a description of related training provided to Veterans Benefits Administration employees.
 
 
The VA shall submit to Congress an initial report within 90 days after enactment of this Act, and annual reports beginning in December 2015. 
 
It is the sense of Congress that the VA should update regulations regarding military sexual trauma by: 
 
 
ensuring that military sexual trauma is specified as an in-service stressor in determining the service-connection of post-traumatic stress disorder, and 
 
recognizing the full range of physical and mental disabilities (including depression, anxiety, and other disabilities as indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association) that can result from military sexual trauma. 
 
 
For the period starting fifteen months after enactment of this Act and lasting until VA publishes updated regulations, the VA shall provide: 
 
 
a copy of the congressional report to each veteran who has submitted a covered claim or been treated for military sexual trauma at a VA medical facility; and 
 
monthly to each such veteran information that includes the date that the VA plans to complete such updated regulations, the number of granted or denied covered claims, a comparison to the rate of grants and denials with the rate for other claims regarding post-traumatic stress disorder, the three most common reasons for claim denials, and the average time for processing covered claims at each regional office. 
 
 
The VA shall report to Congress monthly regarding: (1) all adjudicated covered claims and their outcomes, and (2) the reason for denial of any covered claim. 
 
(Sec. 3) The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is amended to limit to $2 million during each of FY2016-FY2018 the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses paid to VA employees who are members of the Senior Executive Service.

action_date: 2015-07-27
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 16, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Ruth Moore Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress, by December 1, 2015 and each year thereafter through 2019, on claims submitted during the previous fiscal year for disability compensation based on a covered mental health condition alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma (covered claims). 
 
Each report shall include: 
 
 
the number of covered claims submitted or considered; 
 
the number and percentage of such claims submitted by each sex, and the number of claims approved or denied; 
 
the number and percentage, listed by each sex, of approved covered claims assigned to each rating percentage; 
 
the three most common reasons for denial of covered claims, and the number of denials based on the veteran's failure to report for a medical examination; 
 
the number of covered claims pending and the number on appeal; 
 
the average number of days that covered claims take to complete; and 
 
a description of related training provided to Veterans Benefits Administration employees.
 
 
The VA shall submit to Congress an initial report within 90 days after enactment of this Act, and annual reports beginning in December 2015. 
 
It is the sense of Congress that the VA should update regulations regarding military sexual trauma by: 
 
 
ensuring that military sexual trauma is specified as an in-service stressor in determining the service-connection of post-traumatic stress disorder, and 
 
recognizing the full range of physical and mental disabilities (including depression, anxiety, and other disabilities as indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association) that can result from military sexual trauma. 
 
 
For the period starting fifteen months after enactment of this Act and lasting until VA publishes updated regulations, the VA shall provide: 
 
 
a copy of the congressional report to each veteran who has submitted a covered claim or been treated for military sexual trauma at a VA medical facility; and 
 
monthly to each such veteran information that includes the date that the VA plans to complete such updated regulations, the number of granted or denied covered claims, a comparison to the rate of grants and denials with the rate for other claims regarding post-traumatic stress disorder, the three most common reasons for claim denials, and the average time for processing covered claims at each regional office. 
 
 
The VA shall report to Congress monthly regarding: (1) all adjudicated covered claims and their outcomes, and (2) the reason for denial of any covered claim. 
 
(Sec. 3) The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is amended to limit to $2 million during each of FY2016-FY2018 the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses paid to VA employees who are members of the Senior Executive Service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-28
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-07-27
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-07-27
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5517-5518)
action_date: 2015-07-27
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 H5517-5518)
action_date: 2015-07-27
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1607.
action_date: 2015-07-27
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5517-5519)
action_date: 2015-07-27
text: Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 156.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 114-207.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 114-207.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-05-14
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2015-05-14
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2015-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2015-04-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Introduced in House