,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ajib ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #g1 #bjai,ms4 ,pingree 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,brownley of ,california1 ,mrs4 ,dingell1 ,ms4 ,kuster of ,new ,hampshire1 ,ms4 ,moore1 ,mr4 ,rush1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,ms4 ,del,bene1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 ,ms4 ,lofgren1 and ,mr4 ,sablan7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 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 title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to expand health care and benefits from the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs for military sexual trauma1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,servicemembers and ,veterans ,empowerment and ,support ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,technological abuse defined ,section #aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#cg7 ,the term technological abuse means behavior intended to harm1 threaten1 intimidate1 control1 stalk1 harass1 impersonate1 or monitor another person1 except as otherwise permitted by law1 that occurs via the ,internet1 social networking sites1 computers1 mobile devices1 cellular telephones1 apps1 location tracking devices1 instant messages1 text messages1 or other forms of technology4 ,technological abuse may include-- 7,a7 unwanted1 repeated telephone calls1 text messages1 instant messages1 or social media posts2 7,b7 non-consensual access of e-mail accounts1 texts or instant messaging accounts1 social networking accounts1 or cellular telephone logs2 7,c7 attempting to control or restrict a person's ability to access technology with the intent to isolate them from support and social connection2 7,d7 using tracking devices or location tracking software for the purpose of monitoring or stalking another person's location2 7,e7 impersonation of a person with the intent to deceive or cause harm through the use of spoofing technology or the creation of fake email or social media accounts2 or 7,f7 pressuring for or sharing of another person's private information1 photographs1 or videos without their consent4 4 #c4 ,expansion of coverage by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs of counseling and treatment for sexual trauma to include technological abuse of a sexual nature ,section #agbj;,d7a77#a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting technological abuse of a sexual nature1 after battery of a sexual nature14 #d4 ,standard of proof for service-connection of mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma 7a7 ,standard of proof ,section #aaed of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7c7 7#a7 ,in the case of any veteran who claims that a covered mental health condition was incurred in or aggravated by military sexual trauma during active military1 naval1 or air service1 the ,secretary shall accept as sufficient proof of service-connection a diagnosis of such mental health condition by a mental health professional together with satisfactory lay or other evidence of such trauma and an opinion by the mental health professional that such covered mental health condition is related to such military sexual trauma1 if consistent with the facts of such service1 notwithstanding the fact that there is no official record of such incurrence or aggravation in such service1 and1 to that end1 shall resolve every reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran4 ,service-connection of such covered mental health condition may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary4 ,the reasons for granting or denying service-connection in each case shall be recorded in full4 7#b7 ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,the term covered mental health condition means post-traumatic stress disorder1 anxiety1 depression1 or other mental health diagnosis described in the current version of the ,diagnostic and ,statistical ,manual of ,mental ,disorders published by the ,american ,psychiatric ,association that the ,secretary determines to be related to military sexual trauma4 7,b7 ,the term military sexual trauma means1 with respect to a veteran1 a physical assault of a sexual nature1 battery of a sexual nature1 technological abuse of a sexual nature1 or sexual harassment in line of duty4 4 7b7 ,use of evidence in evaluating disability claims involving military sexual trauma 7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,vi of chapter #aa of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #aafd4 ,evaluation of claims involving military sexual trauma 7a7 ,nonmilitary sources of evidence 7#a7 ,in carrying out section #aaed7;c7 of this title1 the ,secretary shall ensure that if a claim for compensation under this chapter is received by the ,secretary for a covered mental health condition 7as defined in such section7 based on military sexual trauma experienced by a veteran during active military1 naval1 or air service1 evidence from sources other than official records of the ,department of ,defense regarding the veteran's service may corroborate the veteran's account of the assault1 battery1 or harassment4 7#b7 ,examples of evidence described in paragraph 7#a7 include the following3 7,a7 ,records from law enforcement authorities1 rape crisis centers1 mental health counseling centers1 hospitals1 and physicians4 7,b7 ,pregnancy tests and tests for sexually transmitted diseases4 7,c7 ,statements from family members1 roommates1 other members of the ,armed ,forces or veterans1 and clergy4 7b7 ,behavior changes corroborating evidence 7#a7 ,in carrying out section #aaed7;c7 of this title1 the ,secretary shall ensure that evidence of a behavior change following military sexual trauma is one type of relevant evidence that may be found in sources described in such subsection4 7#b7 ,examples of behavior changes that may be relevant evidence of military sexual trauma include the following3 7,a7 ,a request for a transfer to another military duty assignment4 7,b7 ,deterioration in work performance4 7,c7 ,substance abuse4 7,d7 ,episodes of depression1 panic attacks1 or anxiety without an identifiable cause4 7,e7 ,unexplained economic or social behavior changes4 7c7 ,notice and opportunity ,to supply evidence ,the ,secretary may not deny a claim of a veteran for compensation under this chapter for a covered mental health condition that is based on military sexual trauma without first-- 7#a7 advising the veteran that evidence described in subsections 7a7 and 7b7 may constitute credible corroborating evidence of the military sexual trauma2 and 7#b7 allowing the veteran an opportunity to furnish such corroborating evidence or advise the ,secretary of potential sources of such evidence4 7d7 ,review of evidence ,in reviewing a claim for compensation described in subsection 7a77#a71 for any evidence received with such claim that is described in subsection 7a7 or 7b71 the ,secretary may submit such evidence to such medical or mental health professional as the ,secretary considers appropriate1 including clinical and counseling experts employed by the ,department1 to obtain a credible opinion as to whether the evidence indicates that military sexual trauma occurred4 7e7 ,point of contact ,the ,secretary shall ensure that each document provided to a veteran relating to a claim for compensation described in subsection 7a77#a7 includes contact information for an appropriate point of contact with the ,department4 7f7 ,specialized teams 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall establish specialized teams to process claims for compensation described in subsection 7a77#a74 7#b7 ,the ,secretary shall ensure that members of teams established under paragraph 7#a7 are trained to identify markers indicating military sexual trauma4 7#c7 ,in any case in which the ,secretary obtains conflicting evidence relating to the substantiation of a claim for compensation described in subsection 7a77#a71 the ,secretary shall give more credence to the evidence that is more beneficial to the claimant4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section1 the terms covered mental health condition and military sexual trauma has the meanings given such terms in section #aaed7;c7 of this title4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item3 #aafd4 ,evaluation of claims involving military sexual trauma4 4 7c7 ,annual reports 7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,vi of chapter #aa of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as amended by subsection 7b71 is further amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #aafe4 ,reports on claims for disabilities incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma 7a7 ,reports ,not later than ,march #a1 #bjbj1 and not less frequently than once each year thereafter through #bjbg1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on covered claims submitted during the previous fiscal year to identify and track the consistency of decisions across regional offices4 7b7 ,elements ,each report under subsection 7a7 shall include the following3 7#a7 ,the number of covered claims submitted to or considered by the ,secretary during the fiscal year covered by the report4 7#b7 ,of the covered claims listed under paragraph 7#a71 the number and percentage of such claims-- 7,a7 submitted by each sex2 7,b7 that were approved1 including the number and percentage of such approved claims submitted by each sex2 and 7,c7 that were denied1 including the number and percentage of such denied claims submitted by each sex4 7#c7 ,of the covered claims listed under paragraph 7#a7 that were approved1 the number and percentage1 disaggregated by sex1 of claims assigned to each rating percentage4 7#d7 ,of the covered claims listed under paragraph 7#a7 that were denied-- 7,a7 the three most common reasons given by the ,secretary under section #eajd7;b77#a7 of this title for such denials2 and 7,b7 the number of denials that were based on the failure of a veteran to report for a medical examination4 7#e7 ,the number of covered claims that1 as of the end of the fiscal year covered by the report1 are pending and1 separately1 the number of such claims on appeal4 7#f7 ,for the fiscal year covered by the report1 the average number of days that covered claims take to complete1 beginning on the date on which the claim is submitted4 7#g7 ,a description of the training that the ,secretary provides to employees of the ,veterans ,benefits ,administration1 or such contractors or other individuals as the ,secretary considers appropriate1 specifically with respect to covered claims1 including the frequency1 length1 and content of such training4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term covered claims means claims for disability compensation submitted to the ,secretary based on a covered mental health condition alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma4 7#b7 ,the terms covered mental health condition and military sexual trauma have the meanings given such terms in section #aaed7;c7 of this title4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter1 as amended by subsection 7b71 is further amended by adding at the end the following new item3 #aafe4 ,annual reports on claims for disabilities incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma4 4 7d7 ,effective date ,subsection 7c7 of section #aaed of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 shall apply with respect to any claim for disability compensation under laws administered by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for which no final decision has been made before the date of the enactment of this ,act4 #e4 ,information for members of the ,armed ,forces regarding availability of services at the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,defense shall inform members of the ,armed ,forces1 using mechanisms available to the ,secretary1 of the eligibility of such members for services at the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 7b7 ,information from ,sexual ,assault ,response ,coordinators ,the ,secretary shall ensure that ,sexual ,assault ,response ,coordinators of the ,department of ,defense advise members of the ,armed ,forces who report instances of military sexual trauma regarding the eligibility of such members for services at the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 7c7 ,military sexual trauma defined ,in this section1 the term military sexual trauma means psychological trauma described in section #agbj;,d7a77#a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 #f4 ,sense of ,congress on access to ,department of ,veterans ,affairs facilities by reservists for counseling and treatment relating to military sexual trauma 7a7 ,in general ,it is the sense of ,congress that members of the reserve components of the ,armed ,forces1 including members of the ,national ,guard1 should be able to access all health care facilities of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to receive counseling and treatment relating to military sexual trauma and not just at ,vet ,centers4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,military sexual trauma ,the term military sexual trauma means psychological trauma described in section #agbj;,d7a77#a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,vet ,center ,the term ,vet ,center has the meaning given that term in section #agab;,a7h7 of such title4