Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act

Bill: 118-hr-8879
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
Introduced: 2024-06-28
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Employment and training programs

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government information and archives

Health personnel

Sex offenses

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-23
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8879 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 28, 2024 Mrs. Kim of California (for herself and Ms. Budzinski ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve claims, made under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, regarding military sexual trauma, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act . 2. Improvement of claims based on military sexual trauma under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (a) Training for employees who process such claims (1) In general Subsection (c) of section 1166 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking members of teams established under subsection (a) are trained and inserting each employee of the Department who processes such a claim, communicates with a claimant regarding evidence supporting such a claim, or decides such a claim, receives annual sensitivity training and training ; and (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) The Secretary shall update training under this subsection not less than once annually. . (2) Report Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding— (A) training provided under such subsection before such date; and (B) plans of the Secretary to carry out the amendments made by paragraph (1). (b) Expansion of duty To assist in obtaining records for a compensation claim Section 5103A(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (2) by inserting, after paragraph (1), the following new paragraph (2): (2) In the case of a claim under section 1166 of this title, the assistance provided by the Secretary under this section shall include obtaining the service personnel record and service medical record of the claimant. . (c) Sensitivity training for certain contracted health care professionals: report; improvements Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on— (1) sensitivity training required for health care professionals, contracted under section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 ( Public Law 104–275 ; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), to perform examinations of veterans who make claims under section 1166 of title 38, United States Code; and (2) the plan of the Secretary to— (A) improve such sensitivity training; and (B) ensure that a veteran who makes such a claim is not retraumatized during such an examination by such a contracted health care professional.