,,ii  #aacth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #bbdc  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,april #aj1    
#bjad ,mrs4 ,murray introduced the      
following bill2 which was read twice and
 referred to the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to     
expand eligibility for the program of   
comprehensive assistance for family     
caregivers of the ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs1 to expand benefits  
available to participants under such    
program1 to enhance special compensation
 for members of the uniformed services  
who require assistance in everyday life1
 and for other purposes4  #a4 ,short    
title  ,this ,act may be cited as the   
,military and ,veteran ,caregiver       
,services ,improvement ,act of #bjad4   
#b4 ,expansion of eligibility for       
participation in and services provided  
under family caregiver program of       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,family caregiver program  7#a7         
,expansion of eligibility ,subsection   

7a77#b77;,b7 of section #agbj;,g of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended by striking on or after         
,september #aa1 #bjja4  7#b7            
,clarification of eligibility for       
illness ,such subsection is further     
amended by inserting or illness after   
serious injury4  7#c7 ,expansion of     
needed services in eligibility criteria 
,subsection 7a77#b77;,c7 of such section
 is amended-- 7,a7 in clause 7ii71 by   
striking 2 or and inserting a semicolon2
  7,b7 by redesignating clause 7iii7 as 
clause 7iv72 and  7,c7 by inserting     
after clause 7ii7 the following new     
clause 7iii73  7iii7 a need for regular 
or extensive instruction or supervision 
in completing two or more instrumental  
activities of daily living2 or  4  7#d7 
,expansion of services provided         
,subsection 7a77#c77;,a77ii7 of such    
section is amended-- 7,a7 in subclause  
7,,iv71 by striking 2 and and inserting 
a semicolon2  7,b7 in subclause 7,v71 by
 striking the period at the end and     

inserting a semicolon2 and  7,c7 by     
adding at the end the following new     
subclauses3  7,,vi7 child care services 
or a monthly stipend for such services  
if such services are not readily        
available from the ,department2  7,,vii7
 financial planning services relating to
 the needs of injured and ill veterans  
and their caregivers2 and  7,,viii7     
legal services1 including legal advice  
and consultation1 relating to the needs 
of injured and ill veterans and their   
caregivers4  4  7#e7 ,expansion of      
respite care provided ,subsection       
7a77#c77;,b7 of such section is amended 
by striking shall be and all that       
follows through the period at the end   
and inserting shall-- 7i7 be medically  
and age-appropriate2  7ii7 include      
in-home care2 and  7iii7 include        
peer-oriented group activities4  4  7#f7
 ,modification of stipend calculation   
,subsection 7a77#c77;,c7 of such section
 is amended-- 7,a7 by redesignating     
clause 7iii7 as clause 7iv72 and  7,b7  

by inserting after clause 7ii7 the      
following new clause 7iii73  7iii7 ,in  
determining the amount and degree of    
personal services provided under clause 
7i7 with respect to an eligible veteran 
whose need for personal care services is
 based in whole or in part on a need for
 supervision or protection under        
paragraph 7#b77;,c77ii7 or regular      
instruction or supervision in completing
 tasks under paragraph 7#b77;,c77iii71  
the ,secretary shall take into account  
the following3 7,i7 ,the assessment by  
the family caregiver of the needs and   
limitations of the veteran4  7,,ii7 ,the
 extent to which the veteran can        
function safely and independently in the
 absence of such supervision1           
protection1 or instruction4  7,,iii7    
,the amount of time required for the    
family caregiver to provide such        
supervision1 protection1 or instruction 
to the veteran4  4  7#g7 ,periodic      
evaluation of need for certain services 
,subsection 7a77#c7 of such section is  

amended by adding at the end the        
following new subparagraph3  7,d7 ,in   
providing instruction1 preparation1 and 
training under subparagraph 7,a77i77,i7 
and technical support under subparagraph
 7,a77i77,,ii7 to each family caregiver 
who is approved as a provider of        
personal care services for an eligible  
veteran under paragraph 7#f71 the       
,secretary shall periodically evaluate  
the needs of the eligible veteran and   
the skills of the family caregiver of   
such veteran to determine if additional 
instruction1 preparation1 training1 or  
technical support under those           
subparagraphs is necessary4  4  7b7     
,repeal of general caregiver support    
program ,such section is amended by     
striking subsection 7b74  7c7 ,provision
 of assistance to caregivers of certain 
veterans ,such section is further       
amended by inserting after subsection   
7a7 the following new subsection 7b73   
7b7 ,provision of assistance to         
caregivers of certain veterans  7#a7 ,in

 providing assistance under subsection  
7a7 to family caregivers of eligible    
veterans who were discharged from the   
,armed ,forces before ,september #aa1   
#bjja1 the ,secretary may enter into    
memoranda of understanding with         
agencies1 ,states1 and other entities to
 provide such assistance to such        
veterans4  7#b7 ,the ,secretary may     
provide assistance under this subsection
 only if such assistance is reasonably  
accessible to the veteran and is        
substantially equivalent or better in   
quality to similar services provided by 
the ,department4  7#c7 ,the ,secretary  
may provide fair compensation to        
entities that provide assistance under  
this subsection pursuant to memoranda of
 understanding entered into under       
paragraph 7#a74  7#d7 ,in carrying out  
this subsection1 the ,secretary shall   
work with the interagency working group 
on policies relating to caregivers of   
veterans and members of the ,armed      
,forces established under section #g of 

the ,military and ,veteran ,caregiver   
,services ,improvement ,act of #bjad4  4
  7d7 ,modification of definition of    
family member ,subparagraph 7,b7 of     
subsection 7d77#c7 of such section is   
amended to read as follows3  7,b7 is not
 a member of the family of the veteran  
and does not provide care to the veteran
 on a professional basis4  4  7e7       
,modification of definition of personal 
care services ,subsection 7d77#d7 of    
such section is amended-- 7#a7 in       
subparagraph 7,a71 by striking          
independent2  7#b7 by redesignating     
subparagraph 7,b7 as subparagraph 7,d72 
and  7#c7 by inserting after            
subparagraph 7,a7 the following new     
subparagraphs3  7,b7 ,supervision or    
protection based on symptoms or         
residuals of neurological or other      
impairment or injury4  7,c7 ,regular or 
extensive instruction or supervision in 
completing two or more instrumental     
activities of daily living4  4  7f7     
,annual evaluation report  7#a7 ,in     

general ,paragraph 7#b7 of section      
#aja7;c7 of the ,caregivers and         
,veterans ,omnibus ,health ,services    
,act of #bjaj 7,public ,law #aaa-afc2   
#ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agbj;,g note7 is amended 
to read as follows3  7#b7 ,contents     
,each report required by paragraph 7#a7 
after the date of the enactment of the  
,military and ,veteran ,caregiver       
,services ,improvement ,act of #bjad    
shall include the following with respect
 to the program of comprehensive        
assistance for family caregivers        
required by subsection 7a77#a7 of such  
section #agbj;,g3 7,a7 ,the number of   
family caregivers that received         
assistance under such program4  7,b7    
,the cost to the ,department of         
providing assistance under such program4
  7,c7 ,a description of the outcomes   
achieved by1 and any measurable benefits
 of1 carrying out such program4  7,d7   
,an assessment of the effectiveness and 
the efficiency of the implementation of 
such program1 including a description of

 any barriers to accessing and receiving
 care and services under such program4  
7,e7 ,a description of the outreach     
activities carried out by the ,secretary
 under such program4  7,f7 ,an          
assessment of the manner in which       
resources are expended by the ,secretary
 under such program1 particularly with  
respect to the provision of monthly     
personal caregiver stipends under       
subsection 7a77#c77;,a77ii77,v7 of such 
section #agbj;,g4  7,g7 ,an evaluation  
of the sufficiency and consistency of   
the training provided to family         
caregivers under such program in        
preparing family caregivers to provide  
care to veterans under such program4    
7,h7 ,such recommendations1 including   
recommendations for legislative or      
administrative action1 as the ,secretary
 considers appropriate in light of      
carrying out such program4  4  7g7      
,conforming amendments  7#a7 ,eligible  
veteran ,subsection 7a77#b7 of such     
section is amended1 in the matter       

preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking
 subsection and inserting section4  7#b7
 ,definitions ,subsection 7d7 of such   
section is amended-- 7,a7 in paragraph  
7#a71 by striking under subsection 7a7  
or a covered veteran under subsection   
7b72  7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by        
striking under subsection 7a72  7,c7 in 
paragraph 7#c71 by striking under       
subsection 7a72 and  7,d7 in paragraph  
7#d71 in the matter preceding           
subparagraph 7,a71 by striking under    
subsection 7a7 or a covered veteran     
under subsection 7b74  7#c7 ,counseling1
 training1 and mental health services   
,section #aghb7;c77#b7 of title #ch1    
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
striking or a caregiver of a covered    
veteran4  #c4 ,authority to transfer    
entitlement to ,post-#i_/aa education   
assistance to family members by         
seriously injured veterans in need of   
personal care services  7a7 ,in general 
,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #cc of title
 #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended 

by adding at the end the following new  
section3  #ccai;,a4 ,authority to       
transfer unused education benefits to   
family members by seriously injured     
veterans  7a7 ,in general ,subject to   
the provisions of this section1 the     
,secretary may permit an individual     
described in subsection 7b7 who is      
entitled to educational assistance under
 this chapter to elect to transfer to   
one or more of the dependents specified 
in subsection 7c7 a portion of such     
individual's entitlement to such        
assistance1 subject to the limitation   
under subsection 7d74  7b7 ,eligible    
individuals ,an individual referred to  
in subsection 7a7 is any individual     
who-- 7#a7 retired for physical         
disability under chapter #fa of title   
#aj2 or  7#b7 is described in paragraph 
7#b7 of section #agbj;,g7a7 of this     
title and who is participating in the   
program established under paragraph 7#a7
 of such section4  7c7 ,eligible        
dependents ,an individual approved to   

transfer an entitlement to educational  
assistance under this section may       
transfer the individual's entitlement as
 follows3 7#a7 ,to the individual's     
spouse4  7#b7 ,to one or more of the    
individual's children4  7#c7 ,to a      
combination of the individuals referred 
to in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b74  7d7    
,limitation on months of transfer  7#a7 
,the total number of months of          
entitlement transferred by a individual 
under this section may not exceed #cf   
months4  7#b7 ,the ,secretary may       
prescribe regulations that would limit  
the months of entitlement that may be   
transferred under this section to no    
less than #ah months4  7e7 ,designation 
of transferee ,an individual            
transferring an entitlement to          
educational assistance under this       
section shall-- 7#a7 designate the      
dependent or dependents to whom such    
entitlement is being transferred2  7#b7 
designate the number of months of such  
entitlement to be transferred to each   

such dependent2 and  7#c7 specify the   
period for which the transfer shall be  
effective for each dependent designated 
under paragraph 7#a74  7f7 ,time for    
transfer2 revocation and modification   
7#a7 ,transfer of entitlement to        
educational assistance under this       
section shall be subject to the time    
limitation for use of entitlement under 
section #ccba of this title4  7#b7 7,a7 
,an individual transferring entitlement 
under this section may modify or revoke 
at any time the transfer of any unused  
portion of the entitlement so           
transferred4  7,b7 ,the modification or 
revocation of the transfer of           
entitlement under this paragraph shall  
be made by the submittal of written     
notice of the action to the ,secretary4 
7#c7 ,entitlement transferred under this
 section may not be treated as marital  
property1 or the asset of a marital     
estate1 subject to division in a divorce
 or other civil proceeding4  7g7        
,commencement of use ,a dependent child 

to whom entitlement to educational      
assistance is transferred under this    
section may not commence the use of the 
transferred entitlement until either--  
7#a7 the completion by the child of the 
requirements of a secondary school      
diploma 7or equivalency certificate72 or
  7#b7 the attainment by the child of   
#ah years of age4  7h7 ,additional      
administrative matters  7#a7 ,the use of
 any entitlement to educational         
assistance transferred under this       
section shall be charged against the    
entitlement of the individual making the
 transfer at the rate of one month for  
each month of transferred entitlement   
that is used4  7#b7 ,except as provided 
under subsection 7e77#b7 and subject to 
paragraphs 7#e7 and 7#f71 a dependent to
 whom entitlement is transferred under  
this section is entitled to educational 
assistance under this chapter in the    
same manner as the individual from whom 
the entitlement was transferred4  7#c7  
,the monthly rate of educational        

assistance payable to a dependent to    
whom entitlement referred to in         
paragraph 7#b7 is transferred under this
 section shall be payable at the same   
rate as such entitlement would otherwise
 be payable under this chapter to the   
individual making the transfer4  7#d7   
,the death of an individual transferring
 an entitlement under this section shall
 not affect the use of the entitlement  
by the dependent to whom the entitlement
 is transferred4  7#e7 7,a7 ,a child to 
whom entitlement is transferred under   
this section may use the benefits       
transferred without regard to the       
#ae-year delimiting date specified in   
section #ccba of this title1 but may    
not1 except as provided in subparagraph 
7,b71 use any benefits so transferred   
after attaining the age of #bf years4   
7,b7 7i7 ,subject to clause 7ii71 in the
 case of a child who1 before attaining  
the age of #bf years1 is prevented from 
pursuing a chosen program of education  
by reason of acting as the primary      

provider of personal care services for a
 veteran or member of the ,armed ,forces
 under section #agbj;,g7a7 of this      
title1 the child may use the benefits   
beginning on the date specified in      
clause 7iii7 for a period whose length  
is specified in clause 7iv74  7ii7      
,clause 7i7 shall not apply with respect
 to the period of an individual as a    
primary provider of personal care       
services if the period concludes with   
the revocation of the individual's      
designation as such a primary provider  
under section #agbj;,g7a77#g77;,d7 of   
this title4  7iii7 ,the date specified  
in this clause for the beginning of the 
use of benefits by a child under clause 
7i7 is the later of-- 7,i7 the date on  
which the child ceases acting as the    
primary provider of personal care       
services for the veteran or member      
concerned as described in clause 7i72   
7,,ii7 the date on which it is          
reasonably feasible1 as determined under
 regulations prescribed by the          

,secretary1 for the child to initiate or
 resume the use of benefits2 or  7,,iii7
 the date on which the child attains the
 age of #bf years4  7iv7 ,the length of 
the period specified in this clause for 
the use of benefits by a child under    
clause 7i7 is the length equal to the   
length of the period that-- 7,i7 begins 
on the date on which the child begins   
acting as the primary provider of       
personal care services for the veteran  
or member concerned as described in     
clause 7i72 and  7,,ii7 ends on the     
later of-- 7aa7 the date on which the   
child ceases acting as the primary      
provider of personal care services for  
the veteran or member as described in   
clause 7i72 or  7bb7 the date on which  
it is reasonably feasible1 as so        
determined1 for the child to initiate or
 resume the use of benefits4  7#f7 ,the 
purposes for which a dependent to whom  
entitlement is transferred under this   
section may use such entitlement shall  
include the pursuit and completion of   

the requirements of a secondary school  
diploma 7or equivalency certificate74   
7#g7 ,the administrative provisions of  
this chapter shall apply to the use of  
entitlement transferred under this      
section1 except that the dependent to   
whom the entitlement is transferred     
shall be treated as the eligible        
individual for purposes of such         
provisions4  7i7 ,overpayment  7#a7 ,in 
the event of an overpayment of          
educational assistance with respect to a
 dependent to whom entitlement is       
transferred under this section1 the     
dependent and the individual making the 
transfer shall be jointly and severally 
liable to the ,united ,states for the   
amount of the overpayment for purposes  
of section #cfhe of this title4  7#b7   
7,a7 ,except as provided in subparagraph
 7,b71 if an individual transferring    
entitlement under this section fails to 
complete the service agreed to by the   
individual under subsection 7b77#a7 in  
accordance with the terms of the        

agreement of the individual under that  
subsection1 the amount of any           
transferred entitlement under this      
section that is used by a dependent of  
the individual as of the date of such   
failure shall be treated as an          
overpayment of educational assistance   
under paragraph 7#a74  7,b7             
,subparagraph 7,a7 shall not apply in   
the case of an individual who fails to  
complete service agreed to by the       
individual-- 7i7 by reason of the death 
of the individual2 or  7ii7 for a reason
 referred to in section #ccaa7;c77#d7 of
 this title4  7j7 ,regulations  7#a7    
,the ,secretary shall prescribe         
regulations to carry out this section4  
7#b7 ,such regulations shall specify--  
7,a7 the manner of authorizing the      
transfer of entitlements under this     
section2  7,b7 the eligibility criteria 
in accordance with subsection 7b72 and  
7,c7 the manner and effect of an        
election to modify or revoke a transfer 
of entitlement under subsection 7f77#b74

  4  7b7 ,conforming amendments  7#a7   
,transfers by members of ,armed ,forces 
,the heading of section #ccai of such   
title is amended by inserting by members
 of the ,armed ,forces after family     
members4  7#b7 ,bar to duplication of   
educational assistance benefits ,section
 #ccbb7;e7 of such title is amended by  
inserting or #ccai;,a after and #ccai4  
7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of   
sections at the beginning of chapter #cc
 of such title is amended by striking   
the item relating to section #ccai and  
inserting the following new items3      
#ccai4 ,authority to transfer unused    
education benefits to family members by 
members of the ,armed ,forces4#ccai;,a4 
,authority to transfer unused education 
benefits to family members by seriously 
injured veterans4  4  #d4 ,enhancement  
of special compensation for members of  
the uniformed services with injuries or 
illnesses requiring assistance in       
everyday living  7a7 ,expansion of      
covered members ,subsection 7b7 of      

section #dci of title #cg1 ,united      
,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by     
striking paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#c7   
and inserting the following new         
paragraphs3  7#a7 has a serious injury  
or illness that was incurred or         
aggravated in the line of duty2  7#b7 is
 in need of personal care services      
7including supervision or protection or 
regular instruction or supervision7 as a
 result of such injury or illness2 and  
2 and  7#b7 by redesignating paragraph  
7#d7 as paragraph 7#c74  7b7            
,nontaxability of special compensation  
,such section is further amended-- 7#a7 
by redesignating subsections 7e71 7f71  
7g71 and 7h7 as subsections 7g71 7h71   
7i71 and 7j71 respectively2 and  7#b7 by
 inserting after subsection 7d7 the     
following new subsection 7e73  7e7      
,nontaxability of compensation ,monthly 
special compensation paid under         
subsection 7a7 shall not be included in 
income for purposes of the ,internal    
,revenue ,code of #aihf4  4  7c7        

,provision of assistance to family      
caregivers ,such section is further     
amended by inserting after subsection   
7e71 as amended by subsection 7b7 of    
this section1 the following new         
subsection 7f73  7f7 ,assistance for    
family caregivers  7#a7 ,the ,secretary 
of ,veterans ,affairs shall provide     
family caregivers of a member in receipt
 of monthly special compensation under  
subsection 7a7 the assistance required  
to be provided to family caregivers of  
eligible veterans under section         
#agbj;,g7a77#c77;,a7 of title #ch 7other
 than the monthly personal caregiver    
stipend provided for in clause 7ii77,v7 
of such section74 ,for purposes of the  
provision of such assistance under this 
subsection1 the definitions in section  
#agbj;,g7d7 of title #ch shall apply1   
except that any reference in such       
definitions to a veteran or eligible    
veteran shall be deemed to be a         
reference to the member concerned4  7#b7
 ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs  

shall provide assistance under this     
subsection-- 7,a7 in accordance with a  
memorandum of understanding entered into
 by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs
 and the ,secretary of ,defense2 and    
7,b7 in accordance with a memorandum of 
understanding entered into by the       
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs and the
 ,secretary of ,homeland ,security 7with
 respect to members of the ,coast       
,guard74  4  7d7 ,expansion of covered  
injuries and illnesses ,subsection 7i7  
of such section1 as redesignated by     
subsection 7b77#a7 of this section1 is  
amended to read as follows3  7i7        
,serious injury or illness defined ,in  
this section1 the term serious injury or
 illness means an injury1 disorder1 or  
illness 7including traumatic brain      
injury1 psychological trauma1 or other  
mental disorder7 that-- 7#a7 renders the
 afflicted person unable to carry out   
one or more activities of daily living2 
7#b7 renders the afflicted person in    
need of supervision or protection due to

 the manifestation by such person of    
symptoms or residuals of neurological or
 other impairment or injury2  7#c7      
renders the afflicted person in need of 
regular or extensive instruction or     
supervision in completing two or more   
instrumental activities of daily living2
 or  7#d7 otherwise impairs the         
afflicted person in such manner as the  
,secretary of ,defense 7or the          
,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 with 
respect to the ,coast ,guard7 prescribes
 for purposes of this section4  4  7e7  
,clerical amendments  7#a7 ,heading     
amendment ,the heading for such section 
is amended to read as follows3  #dci4   
,special compensation3 members of the   
uniformed services with serious injuries
 or illnesses requiring assistance in   
everyday living  4  7#b7 ,table of      
sections amendment ,the table of        
sections at the beginning of chapter #g 
of such title is amended by striking the
 item relating to section #dci and      
inserting the following new item3  #dci4

 ,special compensation3 members of the  
uniformed services with serious injuries
 or illnesses requiring assistance in   
everyday living4  4  #e4 ,flexible work 
arrangements for certain ,federal       
employees  7a7 ,definition of covered   
employee ,in this section1 the term     
covered employee means an employee 7as  
defined in section #baje of title #e1   
,united ,states ,code7 who-- 7#a7 is a  
caregiver1 as defined in section        
#agbj;,g of title #ch1 ,united ,states  
,code2 or  7#b7 is a caregiver of an    
individual who receives compensation    
under section #dci of title #cg1 ,united
 ,states ,code4  7b7 ,authority ,to     
allow flexible work arrangements ,the   
,director of the ,office of ,personnel  
,management may promulgate regulations  
under which a covered employee may--    
7#a7 use a flexible schedule or         
compressed schedule in accordance with  
subchapter ,,ii of chapter #fa of title 
#e1 ,united ,states ,code2 or  7#b7     
telework in accordance with chapter #fe 

of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4  #f4
 ,lifespan respite care  7a7            
,definitions ,section #bija of the      
,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db      
,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;ii7 is amended-- 7#a7 in 
paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by redesignating  
subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,c7 as      
clauses 7i7 through 7iii71 respectively1
 and realigning the margins accordingly2
  7,b7 by striking who requires care or 
supervision to-- and inserting who--    
7,a7 requires care or supervision to--  
2  7,c7 by striking the period and      
inserting 2 or2 and  7,d7 by adding at  
the end the following3  7,b7 is a       
veteran participating in the program of 
comprehensive assistance for family     
caregivers under section #agbj;,g of    
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  2 and
  7#b7 in paragraph 7#e71 by striking or
 another unpaid adult1 and inserting    
another unpaid adult1 or a family       
caregiver as defined in section #agbj;,g
 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1   
who receives compensation under such    

section14  7b7 ,grants and cooperative  
agreements ,section #bijb7;c7 of the    
,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db      
,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;ii-#a7;c77 is amended by 
inserting and the interagency working   
group on policies relating to caregivers
 of veterans established under section  
#g of the ,military and ,veteran        
,caregiver ,services ,improvement ,act  
of #bjad after ,human ,services4  7c7   
,authorization of appropriations        
,section #bije of the ,public ,health   
,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;ii-#d7
 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#d71 by
 striking and at the end2  7#b7 in      
paragraph 7#e71 by striking the period  
and inserting 2 and2 and  7#c7 by adding
 at the end the following3  7#f7        
#ae1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years    
#bjae through #bjai4  4  #g4            
,interagency working group on caregiver 
policy  7a7 ,establishment ,there shall 
be established in the executive branch  
an interagency working group on policies
 relating to caregivers of veterans and 

members of the ,armed ,forces 7in this  
section referred to as the working      
group74  7b7 ,composition  7#a7 ,in     
general ,the working group shall be     
composed of the following3 7,a7 ,a chair
 selected by the ,president4  7,b7 ,a   
representative from each of the         
following agencies or organizations     
selected by the head of such agency or  
organization3 7i7 ,the ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs4  7ii7 ,the          
,department of ,defense4  7iii7 ,the    
,department of ,health and ,human       
,services4  7iv7 ,the ,department of    
,labor4  7v7 ,the ,centers for ,medicare
 and ,medicaid ,services4  7#b7         
,advisors ,the chair may select any of  
the following individuals that the chair
 considers appropriate to advise the    
working group in carrying out the duties
 of the working group3 7,a7 ,academic   
experts in fields relating to           
caregivers4  7,b7 ,clinicians4  7,c7    
,caregivers4  7,d7 ,individuals in      
receipt of caregiver services4  7c7     

,duties ,the duties of the working group
 are as follows3 7#a7 ,to regularly     
review policies relating to caregivers  
of veterans and members of the ,armed   
,forces4  7#b7 ,to coordinate and       
oversee the implementation of policies  
relating to caregivers of veterans and  
members of the ,armed ,forces4  7#c7 ,to
 evaluate the effectiveness of policies 
relating to caregivers of veterans and  
members of the ,armed ,forces1 including
 programs in each relevant agency1 by   
developing and applying specific goals  
and performance measures4  7#d7 ,to     
develop standards of care for caregiver 
services and respite care services      
provided to a caregiver1 veteran1 or    
member of the ,armed ,forces by a       
non-profit or private sector entity4    
7#e7 ,to ensure the availability of     
mechanisms for agencies1 and entities   
affiliated with or providing services on
 behalf of agencies1 to enforce the     
standards described in paragraph 7#d7   
and conduct oversight on the            

implementation of such standards4  7#f7 
,to develop recommendations for         
legislative or administrative action to 
enhance the provision of services to    
caregivers1 veterans1 and members of the
 ,armed ,forces1 including eliminating  
gaps in such services and eliminating   
disparities in eligibility for such     
services4  7#g7 ,to coordinate with     
,state and local agencies and relevant  
non-profit organizations on maximizing  
the use and effectiveness of resources  
for caregivers of veterans and members  
of the ,armed ,forces4  7d7 ,reports    
7#a7 ,in general ,not later than        
,december #ca1 #bjad1 and annually      
thereafter1 the chair of the working    
group shall submit to ,congress a report
 on policies and services relating to   
caregivers of veterans and members of   
the ,armed ,forces4  7#b7 ,elements     
,each report required by paragraph 7#a7 
shall include the following3 7,a7 ,an   
assessment of the policies relating to  
caregivers of veterans and members of   

the ,armed ,forces and services provided
 pursuant to such policies as of the    
date of submittal of such report4  7,b7 
,a description of any steps taken by the
 working group to improve the           
coordination of services for caregivers 
of veterans and members of the ,armed   
,forces among the entities specified in 
subsection 7b77#a77;,b7 and eliminate   
barriers to effective use of such       
services1 including aligning eligibility
 criteria4  7,c7 ,an evaluation of the  
performance of the entities specified in
 subsection 7b77#a77;,b7 in providing   
services for caregivers of veterans and 
members of the ,armed ,forces4  7,d7 ,an
 evaluation of the quality and          
sufficiency of services for caregivers  
of veterans and members of the ,armed   
,forces available from non-governmental 
organizations4  7,e7 ,a description of  
any gaps in care or services provided by
 caregivers to veterans or members of   
the ,armed ,forces identified by the    
working group1 and steps taken by the   

entities specified in subsection        
7b77#a77;,b7 to eliminate such gaps or  
recommendations for legislative or      
administrative action to address such   
gaps4  7,f7 ,such other matters or      
recommendations as the chair considers  
appropriate4  #h4 ,studies on           
post-,september #aa1 #bjja1 veterans and
 seriously injured veterans  7a7        
,longitudinal study on post-#i_/aa      
veterans  7#a7 ,in general ,the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
provide for the conduct of a            
longitudinal study on members of the    
,armed ,forces who commenced service in 
the ,armed ,forces after ,september #aa1
 #bjja4  7#b7 ,grant or contract ,the   
,secretary shall award a grant to1 or   
enter into a contract with1 an          
appropriate entity unaffiliated with the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to   
conduct the study required by paragraph 
7#a74  7#c7 ,plan ,not later than one   
year after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 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 for the conduct 
of the study required by paragraph 7#a74
  7#d7 ,reports ,not later than ,october
 #a1 #bjai1 and every four years        
thereafter1 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 report on the results
 of the study required by paragraph 7#a7
 as of the date of such report4  7b7    
,comprehensive study on seriously       
injured veterans and their caregivers   
7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of     
,veterans ,affairs shall provide for the
 conduct of a comprehensive study on the
 following3 7,a7 ,veterans who have     
incurred a serious injury or illness1   
including a mental health injury4  7,b7 
,individuals who are acting as          
caregivers for veterans4  7#b7 ,elements
 ,the comprehensive study required by   

paragraph 7#a7 shall include the        
following with respect to each veteran  
included in such study3 7,a7 ,the health
 of the veteran and1 if applicable1 the 
impact of the caregiver of such veteran 
on the health of such veteran4  7,b7    
,the employment status of the veteran   
and1 if applicable1 the impact of the   
caregiver of such veteran on the        
employment status of such veteran4  7,c7
 ,the financial status and needs of the 
veteran4  7,d7 ,the use by the veteran  
of benefits available to such veteran   
from the ,department of ,veterans       
,affairs4  7,e7 ,any other information  
that the ,secretary considers           
appropriate4  7#c7 ,grant or contract   
,the ,secretary shall award a grant to1 
or enter into a contract with1 an       
appropriate entity unaffiliated with the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to   
conduct the study required by paragraph 
7#a74  7#d7 ,report ,not later than two 
years after the date of the enactment of
 this ,act1 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 report on the results
 of the study required by paragraph     
7#a74