[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 711 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 711
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for mental
health services from the Department of Veterans Affairs to include
members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 7, 2019
Mr. Tester (for himself, Mr. Moran, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Sullivan, Ms.
Hassan, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. Sanders)
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 expand eligibility for mental
health services from the Department of Veterans Affairs to include
members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Care and Readiness Enhancement for
Reservists Act of 2019'' or the ``CARE for Reservists Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELING AND
RELATED OUTPATIENT SERVICES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE
COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) Readjustment Counseling.--Subsection (a)(1) of section 1712A of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(D)(i) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of
Defense, may furnish to any member of the reserve components of the
Armed Forces who has a behavioral health condition or psychological
trauma, counseling under subparagraph (A)(i), which may include a
comprehensive individual assessment under subparagraph (B)(i).
``(ii) A member of the reserve components of the Armed Forces
described in clause (i) shall not be required to obtain a referral
before being furnished counseling or an assessment under this
subparagraph.''.
(b) Outpatient Services.--Subsection (b) of such section is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by inserting ``to an individual'' after ``If,
on the basis of the assessment furnished''; and
(B) by striking ``veteran'' each place it appears
and inserting ``individual''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``veteran'' and inserting
``individual''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
SEC. 3. PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS TO MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF
THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) In General.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1789. Mental health services for members of the reserve
components of the Armed Forces
``The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, may
furnish mental health services to members of the reserve components of
the Armed Forces.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 1788 the following new item:
``1789. Mental health services for members of the reserve components of
the Armed Forces.''.
SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH
PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Suicide Prevention Program.--
(1) In general.--Section 1720F of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(l)(1) Covered Individual Defined.--In this section, the term
`covered individual' means a veteran or a member of the reserve
components of the Armed Forces.
``(2) In determining coverage of members of the reserve components
of the Armed Forces under the comprehensive program, the Secretary
shall consult with the Secretary of Defense.''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--Such section is further
amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``veterans'' and
inserting ``covered individuals'';
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``veterans''
each place it appears and inserting ``covered
individuals'';
(C) in subsection (c)--
(i) in the subsection heading, by striking
``of Veterans'';
(ii) by striking ``veterans'' each place it
appears and inserting ``covered individuals'';
and
(iii) by striking ``veteran'' and inserting
``individual'';
(D) in subsection (d), by striking ``to veterans''
each place it appears and inserting ``to covered
individuals'';
(E) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``veterans'' and inserting
``covered individuals'';
(F) in subsection (f)--
(i) in the first sentence, by striking
``veterans'' and inserting ``covered
individuals''; and
(ii) in the second sentence, by inserting
``or members'' after ``veterans'';
(G) in subsection (g), by striking ``veterans'' and
inserting ``covered individuals'';
(H) in subsection (h), by striking ``veterans'' and
inserting ``covered individuals'';
(I) in subsection (i)--
(i) in the subsection heading, by striking
``for Veterans and Families'';
(ii) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
by striking ``veterans and the families of
veterans'' and inserting ``covered individuals
and the families of covered individuals'';
(iii) in paragraph (2), by striking
``veterans'' and inserting ``covered
individuals''; and
(iv) in paragraph (4), by striking
``veterans'' each place it appears and
inserting ``covered individuals'';
(J) in subsection (j)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking
``veterans'' each place it appears and
inserting ``covered individuals''; and
(ii) in paragraph (4)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), in the
matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``women veterans'' and
inserting ``covered individuals who are
women'';
(II) in subparagraph (B), by
striking ``women veterans who'' and
inserting ``covered individuals who are
women and''; and
(III) in subparagraph (C), by
striking ``women veterans'' and
inserting ``covered individuals who are
women''; and
(K) in subsection (k), by striking ``veterans'' and
inserting ``covered individuals''.
(3) Clerical amendments.--
(A) In general.--Such section is further amended,
in the section heading, by inserting ``and members of
the reserve components of the armed forces'' after
``veterans''.
(B) Table of sections.--The table of sections at
the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by
striking the item relating to section 1720F and
inserting the following new item:
``1720F. Comprehensive program for suicide prevention among veterans
and members of the reserve components of
the Armed Forces.''.
(b) Mental Health Treatment for Individuals Who Served in
Classified Missions.--
(1) In general.--Section 1720H of such title is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) by striking ``eligible
veteran'' and inserting ``eligible
individual''; and
(II) by striking ``the veteran''
and inserting ``the individual''; and
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking
``eligible veterans'' and inserting ``eligible
individuals'';
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) by striking ``a veteran'' and inserting
``an individual''; and
(ii) by striking ``eligible veteran'' and
inserting ``eligible individual''; and
(C) in subsection (c)--
(i) in paragraph (2), in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``The
term `eligible veteran' means a veteran'' and
inserting ``The term `eligible individual'
means a veteran or a member of the reserve
components of the Armed Forces''; and
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking
``eligible veteran'' and inserting ``eligible
individual''.
(2) Clerical amendments.--
(A) In general.--Such section is further amended,
in the section heading, by inserting ``and members of
the reserve components of the armed forces'' after
``veterans''.
(B) Table of sections.--The table of sections at
the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by
striking the item relating to section 1720H and
inserting the following new item:
``1720H. Mental health treatment for veterans and members of the
reserve components of the Armed Forces who
served in classified missions.''.
SEC. 5. REPORT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATED SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES.
(a) In General.--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 and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a
report that includes an assessment of the following:
(1) The increase, as compared to the day before the date of
the enactment of this Act, of the number of members of the
Armed Forces that use readjustment counseling or outpatient
mental health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs,
disaggregated by State, Vet Center location, and clinical care
site of the Department, as appropriate.
(2) The number of members of the reserve components of the
Armed Forces receiving telemental health care from the
Department.
(3) The increase, as compared to the day before the date of
the enactment of this Act, of the annual cost associated with
readjustment counseling and outpatient mental health care
provided by the Department to members of the reserve components
of the Armed Forces.
(4) The changes, as compared to the day before the date of
the enactment of this Act, in staffing, training, organization,
and resources required for the Department to offer readjustment
counseling and outpatient mental health care to members of the
reserve components of the Armed Forces.
(5) Any challenges the Department has encountered in
providing readjustment counseling and outpatient mental health
care to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
(b) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term ``Vet Center''
has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of title 38, United
States Code.
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