,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cgge ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #af1 #bjac,mr4 ,barr introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to amend titles #aj and #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to improve the treatment of members of the ,armed ,forces and veterans who are victims of military sexual assault4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,military ,sexual ,assault ,victims ,empowerment ,act or the ,military ,,save ,act4 #b4 ,improvement of treatment for military sexual assault 7a7 ,veterans 7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #ag of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #agbj;,d the following new section3 #agbj;,d-#a4 ,counseling and treatment for sexual trauma at non-,department facilities 7a7 ,establishment ,notwithstanding section #agjc of this title1 and in addition to the program under section #agbj;,d1 the ,secretary shall operate a program under which the ,secretary ensures that veterans who are victims of military sexual trauma may receive treatment for such trauma from private providers4 7b7 ,election ,a veteran may elect to receive treatment under this section by notifying the ,secretary of such election at a facility or regional office of the ,department4 ,such notification shall include a written affidavit by the veteran1 made under penalty of perjury under section #agdf of title #bh1 stating that the veteran is a victim of military sexual trauma4 7c7 ,voucher 7#a7 ,upon receiving a notification under subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall issue the veteran a voucher described in paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,a veteran to whom a voucher is issued under paragraph 7#a7 may use the voucher to receive treatment by a private provider who agrees to accept such voucher as payment for such treatment4 ,any amount charged by the private provider for such treatment that is in addition to the amount paid by the voucher shall be the sole responsibility of the veteran4 7#c7 ,a voucher described in this paragraph is a voucher indicating that the ,secretary will reimburse a private provider for treatment provided by the provider to a veteran under this section4 7#d7 ,the amount for which the ,secretary will reimburse a private provider pursuant to a voucher described in paragraph 7#c7 is equal to the amount that the ,secretary pays to a non-,department facility under section #agjc of this title for the same treatment for which the voucher is used4 7#e7 ,the ,secretary shall require that a veteran make a reelection under subsection 7b7 during each #abj-;day period in which the voucher is used following the initial #abj-;day period in which the voucher is valid4 7d7 ,consultation ,the ,secretary shall consult with the ,secretary of ,defense to ensure that this section is carried out in a manner that allows veterans to receive similar treatment as is provided to members of the ,armed ,forces under section #ajgdn of title #aj4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term military sexual trauma means an injury1 illness1 disability1 or psychological trauma that directly resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature1 battery of a sexual nature1 or sexual harassment which occurred while the veteran was serving on active duty or active duty for training4 7#b7 ,the term private provider means a non-,department facility or licensed health care professional1 regardless of whether the facility or professional is entered into a contract pursuant to section #agjc of this title4 7#c7 ,the term sexual harassment has the meaning given that term in section #agbj;,d of this title4 7#d7 ,the term treatment means treatment1 counseling1 and appropriate other care and services to overcome military sexual trauma4 4 7#b7 ,conforming amendments ,section #agbj;,d7a7 of such title is amended-- 7,a7 by striking 7#a7 ,the ,secretary and inserting ,the ,secretary2 7,b7 by striking paragraph 7#b72 and 7,c7 in the section heading1 by adding at ,department facilities after trauma4 7#c7 ,clerical amendments ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by striking the item relating to section #agbj;,d and inserting the following new items3 #agbj;,d4 ,counseling and treatment for sexual trauma at ,department facilities4#agbj;,d-#a4 ,counseling and treatment for sexual trauma at non-,department facilities4 4 7b7 ,members of the ,armed ,forces 7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #ee of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #ajgdm the following new section3 #ajgdn4 ,counseling and treatment for sexual trauma at private facilities 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall operate a program under which the ,secretary ensures that members of the armed forces who are victims of military sexual trauma may receive treatment for such trauma by private providers4 7b7 ,election ,a member may elect to receive treatment under this section by notifying the ,secretary of such election4 ,such notification shall include a written affidavit by the member1 made under penalty of perjury under section #agdf of title #bh1 stating that the member is a victim of military sexual trauma4 7c7 ,voucher 7#a7 ,upon receiving a notification under subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall issue the member a voucher described in paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,a member to whom a voucher is issued under paragraph 7#a7 may use the voucher to receive treatment by a private provider who agrees to accept such voucher as payment for such treatment4 ,any amount charged by the private provider for such treatment that is in addition to the amount paid by the voucher shall be the sole responsibility of the member4 7#c7 ,a voucher described in this paragraph is a voucher indicating that the ,secretary will reimburse a private provider for treatment provided by the provider to a member under this section4 7#d7 ,the amount for which the ,secretary will reimburse a private provider pursuant to a voucher described in paragraph 7#c7 is equal to the amount that the ,secretary pays to a private provider under the ,,tricare program for the same treatment for which the voucher is used4 7#e7 ,the ,secretary shall require that a veteran make a reelection under subsection 7b7 during each #abj-;day period in which the voucher is used following the initial #abj-;day period in which the voucher is valid4 7d7 ,consultation ,the ,secretary shall consult with the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to ensure that this section is carried out in a manner that allows members to receive similar treatment as is provided to veterans under section #agbj;,d-#a of title #ch4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term military sexual trauma means an injury1 illness1 disability1 or psychological trauma that directly resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature1 battery of a sexual nature1 or sexual harassment which occurred while the member was serving on active duty or active duty for training4 7#b7 ,the term private provider means a private facility or licensed health care professional1 regardless of whether the facility or professional is entered into a contract under this chapter to provide treatment under the ,,tricare program4 7#c7 ,the term sexual harassment has the meaning given that term in section #agbj;,d of title #ch4 7#d7 ,the term treatment means treatment1 counseling1 and appropriate other care and services to overcome military sexual trauma4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #ajgdm the following new item3 #ajgdn4 ,counseling and treatment for sexual trauma at private facilities4 4