H.R. 2201

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

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.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Table of contents

• H.R. 2201
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Improvement of claims based on military sexual trauma under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act.

SEC. 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—
      • in paragraph (1), by striking members of teams established under subsection (a) are trainedand 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
        • The Secretary shall ensure that training received by an employee under this subsection is appropriate for how much experience the employee has with such claims.
        • The Secretary shall update training under this subsection not less than once annually.
      • by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
  • (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—
      • training provided under such subsection before such date; and
      • 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—
    • by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
      • 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 of the claimant; and
        • the service medical record of the claimant.
    • by inserting, after paragraph (1), the following new paragraph (2):
• (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—
    • sensitivity training required for health care professionals and individuals who communicate with veterans to schedule examinations, contracted under section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (; note), to perform examinations of veterans who make claims under section 1166 of title 38, United States Code; and Public Law 104–275; 38 U.S.C. 5101
    • the plan of the Secretary to—
      • improve such sensitivity training; and
      • ensure that a veteran who makes such a claim is not retraumatized during such an examination by such a contracted health care professional.