Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans Act

Bill: 116-hr-2798
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
Introduced: 2019-05-16
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Financial literacy

Mental health

Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Veterans' medical care

Women's employment

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-05-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans Act</b></p> <p>This bill permanently extends the Department of Veterans Affairs program that provides reintegration and readjustment services in group retreat settings to women veterans who are recently separated from military service after a prolonged deployment. This program is currently a pilot program that is scheduled to expire at the end of FY2020. </p> <p>Services provided under the program include, but are not limited to, information and counseling on stress reduction.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2798 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 16, 2019 Ms. Brownley of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed Forces.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans Act . 2. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed Forces (a) Permanent program (1) In general Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712C the following new section: 1712D. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated (a) Program (1) Commencing on January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall carry out, through the Readjustment Counseling Service of the Veterans Health Administration, a program to provide reintegration and readjustment services described in subsection (b) in group retreat settings to women veterans who are recently separated from service in the Armed Forces after a prolonged deployment. (2) The participation of a veteran in the program under paragraph (1) shall be at the election of the veteran. (b) Covered services The services provided to a woman veteran under the program under subsection (a)(1) shall include the following: (1) Information on reintegration into the family, employment, and community of the veteran. (2) Financial counseling. (3) Occupational counseling. (4) Information and counseling on stress reduction. (5) Information and counseling on conflict resolution. (6) Such other information and counseling as the Secretary considers appropriate to assist the veteran in reintegration into the family, employment, and community of the veteran. (c) Biennial reports Not later than December 31, 2022, and each even-numbered year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the program under subsection (a)(1). . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1712C the following new item: 1712D. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated. . (b) Conforming repeal Effective December 31, 2020, section 203 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 ( 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is repealed.