115 S681 IS: Deborah Sampson Act U.S. Senate 2017-03-21 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
II 115th CONGRESS1st Session S. 681 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 21, 2017 Mr. Tester (for himself, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Nelson, Ms. Hassan, and Mr. Schatz) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the benefits and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to women veterans, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title; table of contents
(a)
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Deborah Sampson Act. (b)
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I—Peer-to-peer assistance Sec. 101. Pilot program on peer-to-peer assistance for women veterans. Sec. 102. Expansion of capabilities of Women Veterans Call Center to include text messaging. Sec. 103. Provision of reintegration and readjustment services to veterans and family members in group retreat settings. TITLE II—Legal and supportive services Sec. 201. Department of Veterans Affairs public-private partnership on legal services for women veterans. Sec. 202. Additional amount for Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant program to support organizations that have a focus on providing assistance to women veterans and their families. TITLE III—Newborn care Sec. 301. Extension of period of eligibility for care for newborn children from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 302. Source of amounts for medically necessary travel paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with care for newborn children. TITLE IV—Eliminating barriers to access Sec. 401. Women Veterans Retrofit Initiative. Sec. 402. Staffing of women's health primary care providers at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 403. Staffing of Women Veteran Program Manager program at medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 404. Additional funding for primary care and emergency care clinicians in Women Veterans Health Care Mini-Residency Program. TITLE V—Data collection and reporting Sec. 501. Requirement for collection and analysis of data on Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and services and disaggregation of such data by sex and minority status. Sec. 502. Report on availability of prosthetics for women veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 503. Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs Internet website to provide information on services available to women veterans. Sec. 504. Sense of Congress on changing motto of Department of Veterans Affairs to be more inclusive.
<enum>I</enum><header>Peer-to-peer assistance</header> <section id="id901EE572E8DD434E94F8259AA89F47AF"><enum>101.</enum><header>Pilot program on peer-to-peer assistance for women veterans</header> <subsection id="id27A7839967D64E598BF2AC1CFED38AAC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Pilot program required</header><text>Commencing not later than January 1, 2018, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of facilitating peer-to-peer assistance for women veterans, including those who are separating or newly separated from service in the Armed Forces.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id7FCA02DCB1CA4C9BB46DAA012D9AADAA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Peer-to-Peer assistance</header><text>Peer-to-peer assistance under the pilot program shall consist of the following:</text> <paragraph id="id0B37592AA53548FDB521664B328D74BD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Provision of information about services and benefits provided under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idD92CA3A3351E48039EB423610CF35CFA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Employment mentoring.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0479D173454843E8B7E7223D77572750"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program during the three-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id03917750C5F8491190D72F7C9E4445CC"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Emphasis</header><text>In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall emphasize facilitating peer-to-peer assistance for women described in subsection (a) who suffered sexual trauma while serving in the Armed Forces, have post-traumatic stress disorder or suffer from another mental health condition, or are otherwise at risk of becoming homeless.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id45B15BD8050D43BC98D729624B71F0C6"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Outreach</header><text>As part of the pilot program, the Secretary shall conduct a program of outreach to inform women veterans about the pilot program and the assistance available under the pilot program.</text> </subsection><subsection id="idB92493E8E3C147FC80D3744D8FFD3E07"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Training</header><text>As part of the pilot program, the Secretary may conduct training for peer counselors and develop training materials for peer counselors.</text> </subsection><subsection id="idB2F894C87E7C420A913B5D7686D94A1A"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Coordination</header> <paragraph id="idBF3453CF84A04FD48C3F891F80A3A2B9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>With government and community organizations</header><text>Under the pilot program, the Secretary shall facilitate engagement and coordination with such community organizations, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, chambers of commerce, local business organizations, organizations that provide legal assistance, and other organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate to facilitate the transition of women described in subsection (a) into their communities.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id9F31CD5481764AA79FFB1F62D68BBF22"><enum>(2)</enum><header>With Transition Assistance Program</header><text>To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall coordinate facilitation of assistance under the pilot program with the program carried out under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idFC8AC08957834FD8A9D0DC1C243D72B0"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header> <text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such funds as may be necessary to carry out the pilot program.</text> </subsection></section><section id="id02936334579543DC959E3043BEB0F5C5"><enum>102.</enum><header>Expansion of capabilities of Women Veterans Call Center to include text messaging</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall expand the capabilities of the Women Veterans Call Center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to include a text messaging capability.</text> </section><section id="id13F0D2BD7BA0413883E702E3D2A1E573"><enum>103.</enum><header>Provision of reintegration and readjustment services to veterans and family members in group retreat settings</header> <subsection id="id4C42AB3BA9394C728F6B940B88673986"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1712A of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph id="id0734D8EF2EDE4F63A9C6A9EFB34E4E6B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)(1)(B)—</text> <subparagraph id="id49123A8C26DF4DDFA72EB41B1C15B42E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as items (aa) and (bb);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id79DBEE28B6654C0884D0AD158C94805C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB92B0E2F12CF4732BA45F1BC48DBB1D1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subclause (I), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>Counseling</quote> and inserting <quote>(i) Counseling</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id95A70E3184B04F7AA8F091FCE32168C0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new clause:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE19DE8DD5A6E4372BF97B3C78AC2ADC7" style="OLC"> <clause id="idE94D066141C34E9BA88A48C33ED55104" indent="up3"><enum>(ii)</enum><subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4AA971C5FBE74994951681CBD55E4B47"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Except as provided in subclause (IV), counseling furnished to an individual under subparagraph (A) may include reintegration and readjustment services described in subclause (II) furnished in group retreat settings.</text> </subclause><subclause id="idDC68FADB90294F3081EDBFC67BF80616" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Reintegration and readjustment services described in this subclause are the following:</text> <item id="idB03F52EF0D0F44DE8985676BF049C6F0"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>Information on reintegration of the individual into family, employment, and community.</text> </item><item id="idcd8edbf432ca4988bcfb74933ae39b79"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>Financial counseling.</text> </item><item id="idfabdc9a3dbde4002a55979f61176bde1"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>Occupational counseling.</text> </item><item id="idc9657e310a5f4b2eb9b2f29f3334206e"><enum>(dd)</enum><text>Information and counseling on stress reduction.</text> </item><item id="idba7367ee7c9f481993199299eefcb9ba"><enum>(ee)</enum><text>Information and counseling on conflict resolution.</text> </item><item id="id0dfc4e7118554d8fbc857e9005d14df4"><enum>(ff)</enum><text>Such other information and counseling as the Secretary considers appropriate to assist the individual in reintegration into family, employment, and community.</text> </item></subclause><subclause id="id164745D02456458191DB0C7179172146" indent="up1"><enum>(III)</enum><text>In furnishing reintegration and readjustment services under subclause (I), the Secretary shall offer women the opportunity to receive such services in group retreat settings in which the only participants are women.</text> </subclause><subclause id="idFA10C50A5D3C4485AA5A506E7F083D9D" indent="up1"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>An individual referred to in subparagraph (C)(v) may receive reintegration and readjustment services under subclause (I) only if the individual receives such services with a family member described in subclause (I) or (II) of such subparagraph.</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idD1C70FF68E4F42C9A9E43B3EAB153141"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Request for services</header><text>Subsection (a)(2) of such section is amended—</text> <paragraph id="idA129D104DC9C4F7CB58A1B831EC60DB6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Upon</quote> and inserting <quote>(A) Upon</quote>;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idAFE528A7D7FB4AFF80F6FF3DA38A5853"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>paragraph (1)(B)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (1)(B)(i)</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id1282A3AD758644A1851BE5B9E5F0110F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5686CD5E3BF04CF8BDE582FEC194DA13" style="OLC"> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id41B0E80614E64F0595B28D0EB65EAD07" indent="up2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Upon the request of an individual described in paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary shall furnish the individual reintegration and readjustment services in group retreat settings under paragraph (1)(B)(ii).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Legal and supportive services</header> <section id="id31C8E5612A4B4D46919816A95BEDA4F9"><enum>201.</enum><header>Department of Veterans Affairs public-private partnership on legal services for women veterans</header> <subsection id="id16A6A8F4A5BD413191C13FAB1DF91979"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Partnership required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a partnership with at least one nongovernmental organization to provide legal services to women veterans.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id7DFEFCC85EF84CA88DD9B80D075D115B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Focus</header><text>The focus of the partnership established under subsection (a) shall be on the 10 highest unmet needs of women veterans as set forth in the most recently completed Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups for Veterans (CHALENG for Veterans) survey.</text> </subsection></section><section id="id4AE0A20C294549EFB65A364A904A75EA"><enum>202.</enum><header>Additional amount for Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant program to support organizations that have a focus on providing assistance to women veterans and their families</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph id="id16D7A2C82A5C4A5CAC09513B432E5E6E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)—</text> <subparagraph id="idFD9EFA00843C4ACEB6DCB76B80D185EE"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (E), by striking <quote>2017</quote> and inserting <quote>2016</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7E8BED90E95649C38D15F8A1205C53BB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8EB412A6FB494452A00F77C88AACC07C" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="id24C5EF9E9E764A68A34E951433BAD0F1" indent="up1"><enum>(F)</enum><text>$340,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id70EFE9EBF74B4EE3B70B0531DBDAE353"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id788BCC19222249538803E17DBDE39086" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="id3F0EAFF8DA12459FAB2F464309FAEEFE" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Not less than $20,000,000 shall be available under paragraph (1)(F) for the provision of financial assistance under subsection (a) to organizations that have a focus on providing assistance to women veterans and their families.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><enum>III</enum><header>Newborn care</header> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0E7EFE49C2244B0A8D67AA9D9796A67F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header>Extension of period of eligibility for care for newborn children from the Department of Veterans Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1786(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>seven days</quote> and inserting <quote>14 days</quote>.</text> </section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7371C0C40AB44B07B8471EF5378696D8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>302.</enum><header>Source of amounts for medically necessary travel paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with care for newborn children</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1786 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF31B78A94042437AB33532277EC0156A" style="OLC"> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id579C1B804A0A4F75818FC25404D3D8BF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Source of amounts for travel</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts paid by the Department for medically necessary travel in connection with health care services furnished under this section shall be derived from the Medical Services appropriations account of the Department.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><enum>IV</enum><header>Eliminating barriers to access</header> <section id="id0E489FF1655141AE9815394C05A7A663"><enum>401.</enum><header>Women Veterans Retrofit Initiative</header> <subsection id="idEF60FD9FAD224CF8BC6F793EDFA3CB33"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall retrofit existing medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs with fixtures, materials, and other outfitting measures to support the provision of care to women veterans at such facilities.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id56D3AA6B577649A483DBEC406CA0F836"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a plan to address deficiencies in environment of care for women veterans at medical facilities of the Department.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id991DA7F6B6BC412EA1367BDA2F0E6DDD"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $20,000,000 to carry out subsection (a) in addition to amounts otherwise made available to the Secretary for the purposes set forth in such subsection.</text> </subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9663DE4675EF48708AAC13EE1D579555" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>402.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Staffing of women's health primary care providers at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that each medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs has not fewer than one full-time or part-time women's health primary care provider whose duties include, to the extent possible, providing training to other health care providers of the Department on the needs of women veterans.</text> </section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD99029F9A268436CAAAF13947D1CCCDC" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>403.</enum><header>Staffing of Women Veteran Program Manager program at medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC15FB9CBC85D41B389945C80BB974276"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the Women Veteran Program Manager program of the Department of Veterans Affairs is supported at each medical center of the Department with a Women Veteran Program Manager and a Women Veteran Program Ombudsman.</text> </subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6B595CD6A47F486DA09CD1F3BFDA8A1E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Training</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that the staff required under subsection (a) receive the proper training to carry out their duties.</text> </subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA326EF65FA4646B3AD259BCFFA508D3D"><enum>404.</enum><header>Additional funding for primary care and emergency care clinicians in Women Veterans Health Care Mini-Residency Program</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id697153BF64364B9E88FBA60826D1672B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $1,000,000 for each fiscal year for the Women Veterans Health Care Mini-Residency Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide opportunities for participation in such program for primary care and emergency care clinicians.</text> </subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9C65F59B63FF4F5ABA7D72AB5CE5490A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Treatment of amounts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a) shall be in addition to amounts otherwise made available to the Secretary for the purposes set forth in such subsection.</text> </subsection></section><enum>V</enum><header>Data collection and reporting</header> <section id="id0CC0EC4A12564A9B97A1E68B2473C2BA"><enum>501.</enum><header>Requirement for collection and analysis of data on Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and services and disaggregation of such data by sex and minority status</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—</text> <paragraph id="id960DEA145B1D4B268604C3110A51B5C2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">collect and analyze data on each program of the Department of Veterans Affairs that provides a service or benefit to a veteran, including the program carried out under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id391AC45DB70A41AC82206BF36D90D38B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>disaggregate such data by sex and minority status, when the data lends itself to such disaggregation; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id061FC87FC90C412B84A6AD7E0C75C8B8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>publish the data collected and analyzed under paragraph (1), except for such cases in which the Secretary determines that some portions of the data would undermine the anonymity of a veteran.</text> </paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC7A17D1657C64F468B34E55EB85B0780" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>502.</enum><header>Report on availability of prosthetics for women veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the availability from the Department of Veterans Affairs of prosthetics made for women veterans, including an assessment of the availability of such prosthetics at each medical facility of the Department.</text> </section><section id="id334e701445464ad7b2fd1f3503eb5b79"><enum>503.</enum><header>Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs Internet website to provide information on services available to women veterans</header> <subsection id="idad8625b961ec48df90ff9effe144f0c7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall survey the Internet websites and information resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act and publish an Internet website that serves as a centralized source for the provision to women veterans of information about the benefits and services available to them under laws administered by the Secretary.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id6614cc52d16f416fa6dfb0891b516f54"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The Internet website published under subsection (a) shall provide to women veterans information regarding all of the services available in the district in which that the veteran is seeking such services, including, with respect to each medical center and community-based outpatient clinic in the applicable Veterans Integrated Service Network—</text> <paragraph id="id4920f167f53e4149ae1e28f359af1592"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the name and contact information of each women's health coordinator;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id21fb7758c3bd475da91612ee0db98b6c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a list of appropriate staff for other benefits available from the Veterans Benefits Administration, the National Cemetery Administration, and such other entities as the Secretary considers appropriate; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id10833c246ce04592952fe1d8dfbe06f9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc6b6a4f71a8245fe9a54cb9d3f1a28d9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Updated information</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that the information described in subsection (b) that is published on the Internet website required by subsection (a) is updated not less frequently than once every 90 days.</text> </subsection><subsection id="idc64264f488604c8f81e3f80a94df8ab4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Outreach</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the outreach conducted under section 1720F(i) of title 38, United States Code, includes information regarding the Internet website required by subsection (a).</text> </subsection><subsection id="id1E4D950233F541429FFDB9AAEAF96955"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Derivation of funds</header><text>Amounts used by the Secretary to carry out this section shall be derived from amounts made available to the Secretary to publish Internet websites of the Department.</text> </subsection></section><section id="id98DF8F6B6C93440083156E813B995D2A"><enum>504.</enum><header>Sense of Congress on changing motto of Department of Veterans Affairs to be more inclusive</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should change the motto of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be more inclusive.</text></section>