#aafth ,,congress  #ast ,session  ,h4   
,r4 #cbbd  ,,an ,,act  ,to amend title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide  
for increased access to ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs medical care for     
women veterans4  #a4 ,short title2 table
 of contents  7a7 ,short title ,this    
,act may be cited as the ,deborah       
,sampson ,act4  7b7 ,table of contents  
,the table of contents for this ,act is 
as follows3  ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2    
table of contents4 ,title ,i--,veterans 
,health ,administration ,sec4 #aja4     
,office of ,women's ,health in the      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 ,sec4
 #ajb4 ,expansion of capabilities of    
women veterans call center to include   
text messaging4 ,sec4 #ajc4 ,requirement
 for ,department of ,veterans ,affairs  
internet website to provide information 
on services available to women veterans4
 ,sec4 #ajd4 ,report on ,women ,veterans
 ,retrofit ,initiative4 ,sec4 #aje4     
,establishment of environment of care   
standards and inspections at ,department

 of ,veterans ,affairs medical centers4 
,sec4 #ajf4 ,additional funding for     
primary care and emergency care         
clinicians in ,women ,veterans ,health  
,care ,mini-,residency ,program4 ,sec4  
#ajg4 ,establishment of women veteran   
training module for non-,department of  
,veterans ,affairs health care          
providers4 ,title ,,ii--,medical care   
,sec4 #bja4 ,improved access to         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
medical care for women veterans4 ,sec4  
#bjb4 ,counseling and treatment for     
sexual trauma4 ,sec4 #bjc4 ,counseling  
in retreat settings for women veterans  
and other individuals4 ,sec4 #bjd4      
,improvement of health care services    
provided to newborn children by         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4      
,title ,,iii--,reports and other matters
 ,subtitle ,a--,reports ,sec4 #cja4     
,assessment of effects of intimate      
partner violence on women veterans by   
,advisory ,committee on ,women          
,veterans4 ,sec4 #cjb4 ,study on        

staffing of ,women ,veteran ,program    
,manager program at medical centers of  
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
and training of staff4 ,sec4 #cjc4      
,report on availability of prosthetic   
items for women veterans from the       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 ,sec4
 #cjd4 ,study of barriers for women     
veterans to health care from the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 ,sec4
 #cje4 ,report regarding veterans who   
receive benefits under laws administered
 by the ,secretary of ,veterans         
,affairs4 ,sec4 #cjf4 ,study on ,women  
,veteran ,coordinator program4 ,subtitle
 ,b--,other matters ,sec4 #cba4         
,anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault
 policy of the ,department of ,veterans 
,affairs4 ,sec4 #cbb4 ,support for      
organizations that have a focus on      
providing assistance to women veterans  
and their families4 ,sec4 #cbc4 ,gap    
analysis of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs programs that provide          
assistance to women veterans who are    

homeless4 ,sec4 #cbd4 ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs public-private       
partnership on legal services for women 
veterans4 ,sec4 #cbe4 ,program to assist
 veterans who experience intimate       
partner violence or sexual assault4     
,sec4 #cbf4 ,study and task force on    
veterans experiencing intimate partner  
violence or sexual assault4  ,i         
,veterans ,health ,administration  #aja4
 ,office of ,women's ,health in the     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,director of ,women's ,health           
,subsection 7a7 of section #gcjf of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating         
paragraph 7#aj7 as paragraph 7#aa72 and 
7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#i7  
the following new paragraph3  7#aj7 ,the
 ,director of ,women's ,health4  4  7b7 
,organization of ,office  7#a7 ,in      
general ,subchapter ,i of chapter #gc of
 title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is   
amended by adding at the end of the     
following new sections3  #gcaj4 ,office 

of ,women's ,health  7a7 ,establishment 
7#a7 ,the ,under ,secretary for ,health 
shall establish and operate in the      
,veterans ,health ,administration the   
,office of ,women's ,health 7hereinafter
 in this section referred to as the     
,office74 ,the ,office shall be located 
at the ,central ,office of the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  7#b7
 ,the head of the ,office is the        
,director of ,women's ,health           
7hereinafter in this section referred to
 as the ,director74 ,the ,director shall
 report to the ,under ,secretary for    
,health4  7#c7 ,the ,under ,secretary   
for ,health shall provide the ,office   
with such staff and other support as may
 be necessary for the ,office to carry  
out effectively its functions under this
 section4  7#d7 ,the ,under ,secretary  
for ,health may reorganize existing     
offices within the ,veterans ,health    
,administration as of the date of the   
enactment of this section in order to   
avoid duplication with the functions of 

the ,office4  7b7 ,purpose ,the         
functions of the ,office include the    
following3  7#a7 ,to provide a central  
office for monitoring and encouraging   
the activities of the ,veterans ,health 
,administration with respect to the     
provision1 evaluation1 and improvement  
of women veterans' health care services 
in the ,department4  7#b7 ,to develop   
and implement standards of care for the 
provision of health care for women      
veterans in the ,department4  7#c7 ,to  
monitor and identify deficiencies in    
standards of care for the provision of  
health care for women veterans in the   
,department1 to provide technical       
assistance to medical facilities of the 
,department to address and remedy       
deficiencies1 and to perform oversight  
of implementation of standards of care  
for women veterans' health care in the  
,department4  7#d7 ,to monitor and      
identify deficiencies in standards of   
care for the provision of health care   
for women veterans provided through the 

community pursuant to this title1 and to
 provide recommendations to the         
appropriate office to address and remedy
 any deficiencies4  7#e7 ,to oversee    
distribution of resources and           
information related to women veterans'  
health programming under this title4    
7#f7 ,to promote the expansion and      
improvement of clinical1 research1 and  
educational activities of the ,veterans 
,health ,administration with respect the
 health care of women veterans4  7#g7   
,to provide1 as part of the annual      
budgeting process1 recommendations with 
respect to the amount of funds to be    
requested for furnishing hospital care  
and medical services to women veterans  
pursuant to chapter #ag of this title1  
including1 at a minimum1 recommendations
 that ensure that such amount of funds  
either reflect or exceed the proportion 
of veterans enrolled in the patient     
enrollment system under section #agje of
 this title who are women4  7#h7 ,to    
provide recommendations to the ,under   

,secretary for ,health with respect to  
modifying the ,veterans ,equitable      
,resource ,allocation system to ensure  
that resource allocations under such    
system reflect the health care needs of 
women veterans4  7#i7 ,to carry out such
 other duties as the ,under ,secretary  
for ,health may require4  7c7           
,recommendations ,if the ,under         
,secretary for ,health determines not to
 implement any recommendation made by   
the ,director with respect to the       
allocation of resources to address the  
health care needs of women veterans1 the
 ,secretary shall notify the appropriate
 congressional committees of such       
determination by not later than #cj days
 after the date on which the ,under     
,secretary for ,health receives the     
recommendation4 ,each such notification 
shall include the following3  7#a7 ,the 
reasoning of the ,under ,secretary for  
,health in making such determination4   
7#b7 ,an alternative1 if one is         
selected1 to such recommendation that   

the ,under ,secretary for ,health will  
carry out to fulfill the health care    
needs of women veterans4  7d7 ,standards
 of care ,in this section1 the standards
 of care for the provision of health    
care for women veterans in the          
,department shall include1 at a minimum1
 the following3 7#a7 ,requirement for-- 
7,a7 at least one designated women's    
health primary care provider at each    
medical center whose duties include1 to 
the extent practicable1 providing       
training to other health care providers 
of the ,department with respect to the  
needs of women veterans2 and  7,b7 at   
least one designated women's health     
primary care provider at each           
community-based outpatient clinic of the
 ,department who may serve female       
patients as a percentage of the total   
duties of the provider4  7#b7 ,other    
requirements as determined by the ,under
 ,secretary for ,health4  7e7 ,outreach 
,the ,director shall ensure that--  7#a7
 not less frequently than biannually1   

each medical facility of the ,department
 holds a public forum for women veterans
 that occurs outside of regular business
 hours2 and  7#b7 not less frequently   
than quarterly1 each medical facility of
 the ,department convenes a focus group 
of women veterans that includes a       
discussion of harassment occurring at   
such facility4  7f7 ,definitions ,in    
this section3 7#a7 ,the term appropriate
 congressional committees has the       
meaning given that term in section      
#gcaj;,a of this title4  7#b7 ,the term 
facility of the ,department has the     
meaning given the term in section       
#agja7c74  7#c7 ,the term ,veterans     
,equitable ,resource ,allocation system 
means the resource allocation system    
established pursuant to section #dbi of 
the ,departments of ,veterans ,affairs  
and ,housing and ,urban ,development1   
and ,independent ,agencies              
,appropriations ,act1 #aiig 7,public    
,law #ajd-bjd2 #aaj ,stat4 #bibi74      
#gcaj;,a4 ,annual reports on women's    

,health  7a7 ,annual reports ,not later 
than ,december #a of each year1 the     
,director of ,women's ,health shall     
submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report containing the      
matters under subsections 7b7 through   
7g74  7b7 ,office of ,women's ,health   
,each report under subsection 7a7 shall 
include a description of--  7#a7 actions
 taken by the ,office of ,women's       
,health in the preceding fiscal year to 
improve the ,department's provision of  
health care to women veterans2  7#b7 any
 identified deficiencies related to the 
,department's provision of health care  
to women veterans and the standards of  
care established in section #gcaj of    
this title1 and the ,department's plan  
to address such deficiencies2  7#c7 the 
funding and personnel provided to the   
,office and whether additional funding  
or personnel are needed to meet the     
requirements of such section2 and  7#d7 
other information that would be of      
interest to the appropriate             

congressional committees with respect to
 oversight of the ,department's         
provision of health care to women       
veterans4  7c7 ,access to               
gender-,specific services ,each report  
under subsection 7a7 shall include an   
analysis of the access of women veterans
 to gender-specific services under      
contracts1 agreements1 or other         
arrangements with non-,department       
medical providers entered into by the   
,secretary for the provision of hospital
 care or medical services to veterans4  
,such analysis shall include data and   
performance measures for the            
availability of gender specific         
services1 including-- 7#a7 the average  
wait time between the veteran's         
preferred appointment date and the date 
on which the appointment is completed2  
7#b7 the average driving time required  
for veterans to attend appointments2 and
  7#c7 reasons why appointments could   
not be scheduled with non-,department   
medical providers4  7d7 ,locations where

 women veterans are using health care   
,each report under subsection 7a7 shall 
include an analysis of the use by women 
veterans of health care from the        
,department1 including the following    
information3 7#a7 ,the number of women  
veterans who reside in each ,state4     
7#b7 ,the number of women veterans in   
each ,state who are enrolled in the     
system of patient enrollment of the     
,department established and operated    
under section #agje7;a7 this title4     
7#c7 ,of the women veterans who are so  
enrolled1 the number who have received  
health care under the laws administered 
by the ,secretary at least one time     
during the #a-year period preceding the 
submittal of the report4  7#d7 ,the     
number of women veterans who have been  
seen at each medical facility of the    
,department during such year4  7#e7 ,the
 number of appointments that women      
veterans have had at each such facility 
during such year4  7#f7 ,if known1 an   
identification of the medical facility  

of the ,department in each ,veterans    
,integrated ,service ,network with the  
largest rate of increase in patient     
population of women veterans as measured
 by the increase in unique women veteran
 patient use4  7#g7 ,if known1 an       
identification of the medical facility  
of the ,department in each ,veterans    
,integrated ,service ,network with the  
largest rate of decrease in patient     
population of women veterans as measured
 by the decrease in unique women        
veterans patient use4  7e7 ,models of   
care ,each report under subsection 7a7  
shall include an analysis of the use by 
the ,department of general primary care 
clinics1 separate but shared spaces1 and
 women's health centers as models of    
providing health care to women veterans4
 ,such analysis shall include the       
following3 7#a7 ,the number of          
facilities of the ,department that fall 
into each such model1 disaggregated by  
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network 
and ,state4  7#b7 ,a description of the 

criteria used by the ,department to     
determine which such model is most      
appropriate for each facility of the    
,department4  7#c7 ,an assessment of how
 the ,department decides to make        
investments to modify facilities to a   
different model4  7#d7 ,a description of
 what1 if any1 plans the ,department has
 to modify facilities from general      
primary care clinics to another model4  
7#e7 ,an assessment of whether any      
facilities could be modified to a       
separate but shared space for a women's 
health center within planned investments
 under the strategic capital investment 
planning process of the ,department4    
7#f7 ,an assessment of whether any      
facilities could be modified to a       
separate or shared space1 or women's    
health center with minor modifications  
to existing plans under the strategic   
capital investment planning process of  
the ,department4  7#g7 ,an assessment of
 whether the ,department has a goal for 
how many facilities should fall into    

each such model4  7f7 ,staffing ,each   
report under subsection 7a7 shall       
include an analysis of the staffing of  
the ,department relating to the         
treatment of women1 including the       
following1 disaggregated by ,veterans   
,integrated ,service ,network and ,state
 7except with respect to paragraph      
7#d773 7#a7 ,the number of women's      
health centers4  7#b7 ,the number of    
patient aligned care teams of the       
,department relating to women's health4 
7#c7 ,the number of full- and part-time 
gynecologists of the ,department4  7#d7 
,the number of designated women's health
 care providers of the ,department1     
disaggregated by facility of the        
,department4  7#e7 ,the number of health
 care providers of the ,department who  
have completed a mini-residency for     
women's health care through ,women      
,veterans ,health ,care ,mini-,residency
 ,program of the ,department during the 
#a-year period preceding the submittal  
of the report1 and the number that plan 

to participate in such a mini-residency 
during the #a-year period following such
 date4  7#f7 ,the number of designated  
women's health care providers of the    
,department who have sufficient female  
patients to retain their competencies   
and proficiencies4  7g7 ,accessibility  
and treatment options ,each report under
 subsection 7a7 shall include an        
analysis of the accessibility and       
treatment options for women veterans1   
including the following3  7#a7 ,an      
assessment of wheelchair accessibility  
of women's health centers of the        
,department1 including1 with respect to 
each such facility1 an assessment of    
such accessibility for each kind of     
treatment provided at the center1       
including with respect to radiology and 
mammography1 that addresses all relevant
 factors1 including door sizes1 hoists1 
and equipment4  7#b7 ,the options for   
women veterans to access female mental  
health providers and primary care       
providers4  7#c7 ,the options for women 

veterans at medical facilities of the   
,department with respect to clothing    
sizes1 including for gowns1 drawstring  
pants1 and pajamas4  7h7 ,definitions   
,in this section3  7#a7 ,the term       
appropriate congressional committees    
means-- 7,a7 the ,committees on         
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives and the ,senate2 and   
7,b7 the ,committees on ,appropriations 
of the ,house of ,representatives and   
the ,senate4  7#b7 ,the term            
gender-specific services means          
mammography1 obstetric care1            
gynecological care1 and such other      
services as the ,secretary determines   
appropriate4  4  7#b7 ,clerical         
amendment ,the table of sections for    
such chapter is amended by inserting    
after the item relating to section      
#gcji;,a the following new items3       
#gcaj4 ,office of ,women's ,health4     
#gcaj;,a4 ,annual reports on women's    
,health4  4  7c7 ,initial report ,the   
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  

submit the initial report under section 
#gcaj;,a of title #ch1 ,united ,states  
,code1 as added by subsection 7b71 by   
not later than #ahj days after the date 
of the enactment of this ,act4  #ajb4   
,expansion of capabilities of women     
veterans call center to include text    
messaging ,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 capability4 
#ajc4 ,requirement for ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs internet website to  
provide information on services         
available to women veterans  7a7 ,in    
general ,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          
,secretary4  7b7 ,elements ,the internet
 website published under subsection 7a7 
shall provide to women veterans         
information regarding all of the        
services available in the district in   
which the veteran is seeking such       
services1 including1 with respect to    
each medical center and community-based 
outpatient clinic in the applicable     
,veterans ,integrated ,service          
,network-- 7#a7 the name and contact    
information of each women veterans      
program manager2  7#b7 a list of        
appropriate staff for other benefits    
available from the ,veterans ,benefits  
,administration1 the ,national ,cemetery
 ,administration1 and such other        
entities as the ,secretary considers    
appropriate2 and  7#c7 such other       
information as the ,secretary considers 
appropriate4  7c7 ,updated information  
,the ,secretary shall ensure that the   
information described in subsection 7b7 

that is published on the internet       
website required by subsection 7a7 is   
updated not less frequently than once   
every #ij days4  7d7 ,outreach ,in      
carrying out this section1 the          
,secretary shall ensure that the        
outreach conducted under section        
#agbj;,f7i7 of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 includes information     
regarding the internet website required 
by subsection 7a74  7e7 ,derivation of  
funds ,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 ,department4  #ajd4 ,report on   
,women ,veterans ,retrofit ,initiative  
7a7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days   
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs shall submit to the ,committees
 on ,veterans' ,affairs and the         
,committees on ,appropriations of the   
,senate and the ,house of               
,representatives a report on            

requirements to retrofit existing       
medical facilities of the ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs with fixtures1      
materials1 and other outfitting measures
 to support the provision of care to    
women veterans at such facilities4  7b7 
,elements ,the report under subsection  
7a7 shall include the following3 7#a7   
,an assessment of how the ,secretary    
prioritizes retrofitting existing       
medical facilities to support provision 
of care to women veterans in comparison 
to other requirements4  7#b7 ,a #e-year 
plan for retrofitting medical facilities
 of the ,department to support the      
provision of care to women veterans4    
#aje4 ,establishment of environment of  
care standards and inspections at       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
medical centers  7a7 ,in general ,the   
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
establish a policy under which the      
environment of care standards and       
inspections at medical centers of the   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       

include--  7#a7 an alignment of the     
requirements for such standards and     
inspections with the women's health     
handbook of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration2  7#b7 a requirement for
 the frequency of such inspections2     
7#c7 delineation of the roles and       
responsibilities of staff at the medical
 center who are responsible for         
compliance2  7#d7 the requirement that  
each medical center submit to the       
,secretary and make publicly available a
 report on the compliance of the medical
 center with the standards2 and  7#e7 a 
remediation plan4  7b7 ,report ,not     
later than #ahj days after the date of  
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and ,house of               
,representatives certification in       
writing that the policy required by     
subsection 7a7 has been finalized and   
disseminated to ,department all medical 
centers4  #ajf4 ,additional funding for 

primary care and emergency care         
clinicians in ,women ,veterans ,health  
,care ,mini-,residency ,program  7a7 ,in
 general ,there is authorized to be     
appropriated to the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs #a1jjj1jjj 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         
clinicians4  7b7 ,treatment of amounts  
,the amounts authorized to be           
appropriated under subsection 7a7 shall 
be in addition to amounts otherwise made
 available to the ,secretary for the    
purposes set forth in such subsection4  
#ajg4 ,establishment of women veteran   
training module for non-,department of  
,veterans ,affairs health care providers
  7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a    
year after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans  
,affairs shall establish and make       

available to community providers a      
training module that is specific to     
women veterans4  7b7 ,community provider
 defined ,in this section1 the term     
community provider means a              
non-,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
health care provider who provides health
 care to veterans under the laws        
administered by the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs4  ,,ii ,medical care 
#bja4 ,improved access to ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs medical care for    
women veterans  7a7 ,in general         
,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #ag of title
 #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended 
by adding at the end the following new  
section3  #agbj;,j4 ,medical services   
for women veterans  7a7 ,access to care 
,the ,secretary shall ensure that       
women's health primary care services are
 available during regular business hours
 at every medical center and community  
based outpatient clinic of the          
,department4  7b7 ,study on extended    
hours of care ,the ,secretary shall     

conduct a study to assess-- 7#a7 the use
 of extended hours as a means of        
reducing barriers to care2  7#b7 the    
need for extended hours based on        
interviews with women veterans and      
employees2 and  7#c7 the best practices 
and resources required to implement use 
of extended hours4  7c7 ,annual report  
to ,congress ,not later than ,september 
#cj of each year1 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 
compliance with subsection 7a74  4  7b7 
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of such       
chapter is amended by inserting after   
the item relating to section #agbj;,i   
the following new item3  #agbj;,j4      
,medical services for women veterans4  4
  #bjb4 ,counseling and treatment for   
sexual trauma ,section #agbj;,d of title
 #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is         
amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7--  7,a7

 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking active  
duty1 active duty for training1 or      
inactive duty training and inserting    
duty1 regardless of duty status or line 
of duty determination 7as that term is  
used in section #abcbc of title #aj72   
and  7,b7 in paragraph 7#b77;,a71 by    
striking active duty1 active duty for   
training1 or inactive duty training and 
inserting duty1 regardless of duty      
status or line of duty determination 7as
 that term is used in section #abcbc of 
title #aj72  7#b7 by striking veteran   
each place it appears and inserting     
former member of the ,armed ,forces2    
7#c7 by striking veterans each place it 
appears and inserting former members of 
the ,armed ,forces2 and  7#d7 by adding 
at the end the following new subsection3
  7g7 ,in this section1 the term former 
member of the ,armed ,forces includes   
the following3  7#a7 ,a veteran         
described in section #aja7b7 of this    
title4  7#b7 ,an individual not         
described in paragraph 7#a7 who was     

discharged or released from the ,armed  
,forces under a condition that is not   
honorable but not--  7,a7 a dishonorable
 discharge2 or  7,b7 a discharge by     
court-martial4  4  #bjc4 ,counseling in 
retreat settings for women veterans and 
other individuals  7a7 ,in general      
,chapter #ag of title #ch1 ,united      
,states ,code1 is amended by inserting  
after section #agab;,c the following new
 section3  #agab;,d4 ,counseling in     
retreat settings for women veterans and 
other individuals  7a7 ,program  7#a7   
,commencing not later than ,january #a1 
#bjba1 the ,secretary shall carry out1  
through the ,readjustment ,counseling   
,service of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration1 a program to provide   
reintegration and readjustment services 
described in subsection 7b7 in group    
retreat settings to covered individuals1
 including cohorts of women veterans who
 are eligible for readjustment          
counseling services under section       
#agab;,a of this title4  7#b7 ,the      

participation of a covered individual in
 the program under paragraph 7#a7 shall 
be at the election of the individual4   
7b7 ,covered services ,the services     
provided to a covered individual under  
the program under subsection 7a77#a7    
shall include the following3  7#a7      
,information on reintegration into the  
family1 employment1 and community of the
 individual4  7#b7 ,financial           
counseling4  7#c7 ,occupational         
counseling4  7#d7 ,information and      
counseling on stress reduction4  7#e7   
,information and counseling on conflict 
resolution4  7#f7 ,such other           
information and counseling as the       
,secretary considers appropriate to     
assist the individual in reintegration  
into the family1 employment1 and        
community of the veteran4  7c7 ,biennial
 reports ,not later than ,december #ca1 
#bjbb1 and each even-numbered year      
thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit 
to the ,committees on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,house of               

,representatives and the ,senate a      
report on the program under subsection  
7a77#a74  7d7 ,covered individual       
defined ,in this section1 the term      
covered individual means--  7#a7 ,any   
veteran who is enrolled in the system of
 annual patient enrollment under section
 #agje of this title4  7#b7 ,any        
survivor or dependent of a veteran who  
is eligible for medical care under      
section #agha of this title4  4  7b7    
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of such       
chapter is amended by inserting after   
the item relating to section #agab;,c   
the following new item3  #agab;,d4      
,counseling in retreat settings for     
women veterans and other individuals4  4
  #bjd4 ,improvement of health care     
services provided to newborn children by
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7 
,expansion ,section #aghf of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 is amended--     
7#a7 in subsection 7a71 in the matter   
preceding paragraph 7#a71 by striking   

seven days and inserting #ad days2 and  
7#b7 by adding at the end the following 
new subsection3  7f7 ,annual report ,not
 later than #fj days after the end of   
each fiscal year1 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 health care services provided under 
subsection 7a7 during such fiscal year1 
including the number of newborn children
 who received such services during such 
fiscal year4  4  7b7 ,authority ,to     
furnish medically necessary             
transportation for newborn children of  
certain women veterans ,such section is 
further amended--  7#a7 in subsection   
7a7-- 7,a7 in the matter before         
paragraph 7#a7--  7i7 by inserting and  
transportation necessary to receive such
 services after described in subsection 
7b72 and  7ii7 by inserting 1 except as 
provided in subsection 7e71 after #ad   
days2  7,b7 in paragraph 7#a71 by       

striking or2  7,c7 in paragraph 7#b71 by
 striking the period at the end and     
inserting 2 or2 and  7,d7 by adding at  
the end the following new paragraph3    
7#c7 another location1 including a      
health care facility1 if the veteran    
delivers the child before arriving at a 
facility described in paragraph 7#a7 or 
7#b74  2  7#b7 in subsection 7b71 by    
inserting before the period at the end  
the following3 1 including necessary    
health care services provided by a      
facility other than the facility where  
the newborn child was delivered         
7including a specialty pediatric        
hospital7 that accepts transfer of the  
newborn child and responsibility for    
treatment of the newborn child2 and     
7#c7 by inserting before subsection 7f71
 as added by subsection 7a71 the        
following new subsections3  7c7         
,transportation  7#a7 ,transportation   
furnished under subsection 7a7 to1 from1
 or between care settings to meet the   
needs of a newborn child includes costs 

for either or both the newborn child and
 parents4  7#b7 ,transportation         
furnished under subsection 7a7 is       
transportation by ambulance1 including  
air ambulance1 or other appropriate     
medically staffed modes of              
transportation--  7,a7 to another health
 care facility 7including a specialty   
pediatric hospital7 that accepts        
transfer of the newborn child or        
otherwise provides post-delivery care   
services when the treating facility is  
not capable of furnishing the care or   
services required2 or  7,b7 to a health 
care facility in a medical emergency of 
such nature that a prudent layperson    
reasonably expects that delay in seeking
 immediate medical attention would be   
hazardous to life or health4  7#c7      
,amounts paid by the ,department for    
transportation under this section shall 
be derived from the ,medical ,services  
appropriations account of the           
,department4  7d7 ,reimbursement or     
payment for health care services or     

transportation  7#a7 ,pursuant to       
regulations the ,secretary shall        
prescribe to establish rates of         
reimbursement and any limitations       
thereto under this section1 the         
,secretary shall directly reimburse a   
covered entity for health care services 
or transportation services provided     
under this section1 unless the cost of  
the services or transportation is       
covered by an established agreement or  
contract4 ,if such an agreement or      
contract exists1 its negotiated payment 
terms shall apply4  7#b7  7,a7          
,reimbursement or payment by the        
,secretary under this section on behalf 
of an individual to a covered entity    
shall1 unless rejected and refunded by  
the covered entity within #cj days of   
receipt1 extinguish any liability on the
 part of the individual for the health  
care services or transportation covered 
by such payment4  7,b7 ,neither the     
absence of a contract or agreement      
between the ,secretary and a covered    

entity nor any provision of a contract1 
agreement1 or assignment to the contrary
 shall operate to modify1 limit1 or     
negate the requirements of subparagraph 
7,a74  7#c7 ,in this subsection1 the    
term covered entity means any           
individual1 transportation carrier1     
organization1 or other entity that      
furnished or paid for health care       
services or transportation under this   
section4  7e7 ,exception ,pursuant to   
such regulations as the ,secretary shall
 prescribe to carry out this section1   
the ,secretary may furnish more than #ad
 days of health care services described 
in subsection 7b71 and transportation   
necessary to receive such services1 to a
 newborn child based on medical         
necessity if the child is in need of    
additional care1 including a case in    
which the newborn child has been        
discharged or released from a hospital  
and requires readmittance to ensure the 
health and welfare of the newborn child4
  4  7c7 ,treatment of certain expenses 

already incurred ,pursuant to such      
regulations as the ,secretary of        
,veterans ,affairs shall prescribe1 the 
,secretary may provide reimbursement    
under section #aghf of title #ch1       
,united ,states ,code1 as amended by    
subsection 7a71 health care services or 
transportation services furnished to a  
newborn child during the period         
beginning on ,may #e1 #bjaj1 and ending 
on the date of the enactment of this    
,act1 if the ,secretary determines that1
 under the circumstances applicable with
 respect to the newborn1 such           
reimbursement appropriate4  ,,iii       
,reports and other matters  ,a ,reports 
#cja4 ,assessment of effects of intimate
 partner violence on women veterans by  
,advisory ,committee on ,women ,veterans
 ,section #edb7;c77#a7 of title #ch1    
,united ,states ,code1 is amended--     
7#a7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking  
and at the end2  7#b7 by redesignating  
subparagraph 7,c7 as subparagraph 7,d72 
and  7#c7 by inserting after            

subparagraph 7,b7 the following new     
subparagraph 7,c73  7,c7 an assessment  
of the effects of intimate partner      
violence on women veterans2 and  4      
#cjb4 ,study on staffing of ,women      
,veteran ,program ,manager program at   
medical centers of the ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs and training of staff
  7a7 ,study ,the ,secretary of         
,veterans ,affairs shall conduct a study
 on the use of the ,women ,veteran      
,program ,manager program of the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
determine-- 7#a7 if the program is      
appropriately staffed at each medical   
center of the ,department2  7#b7 whether
 each medical center of the ,department 
is staffed with a ,women ,veteran       
,program ,manager2 and  7#c7 whether it 
would be feasible and advisable to have 
a ,women ,veteran ,program ,ombudsman at
 each medical center of the ,department4
  7b7 ,report ,not later than #bgj days 
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 study  
conducted under subsection 7a74  7c7    
,training ,the ,secretary shall ensure  
that all ,women ,veteran ,program       
,managers and ,women ,veteran ,program  
,ombudsmen receive the proper training  
to carry out their duties4  #cjc4       
,report on availability of prosthetic   
items for women veterans from the       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,not  
later than #a year after the date of the
 enactment of this ,act1 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 prosthetic items  
made for women veterans1 including an   
assessment of the availability of such  
prosthetic items at each medical        

facility of the ,department4 ,the report
 shall-- 7#a7 address efforts on        
research1 development1 and employment of
 additive manufacture technology        
7commonly referred to as #c;,d printing7
 to provide prosthetic items for women  
veterans2 and  7#b7 include a survey    
with a representative sample of #ej1jjj 
veterans 7of which women shall be       
overrrepresented7 in amputee care       
program on satisfaction with prosthetics
 furnished or procured by the           
,department that replace appendages or  
their function4  #cjd4 ,study of        
barriers for women veterans to health   
care from the ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs  7a7 ,study required ,the      
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
conduct a comprehensive study of the    
barriers to the provision of            
comprehensive health care by the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
encountered by women who are veterans4  
,in conducting the study1 the ,secretary
 shall--  7#a7 survey women veterans who

 seek or receive hospital care or       
medical services provided by the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs as    
well as women veterans who do not seek  
or receive such care or services2  7#b7 
administer the survey to a              
representative sample of women veterans 
from each ,veterans ,integrated ,service
 ,network2 and  7#c7 ensure that the    
sample of women veterans surveyed is of 
sufficient size for the study results to
 be statistically significant and is a  
larger sample than that of the study    
referred to in subsection 7b77#a74  7b7 
,use of previous studies ,in conducting 
the study required by subsection 7a71   
the ,secretary shall build on the work  
of the studies of the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs titled--  7#a7       
,national ,survey of ,women ,veterans in
 ,fiscal ,year #bjjg-bjjh2 and  7#b7    
,study of ,barriers for ,women ,veterans
 to ,,va ,health ,care #bjae4  7c7      
,elements of study ,in conducting the   
study required by subsection 7a71 the   

,secretary shall conduct research on the
 effects of the following on the women  
veterans surveyed in the study3 7#a7    
,the barriers associated with seeking   
mental health care services1 including  
with respect to provider availability1  
telehealth access1 and family1 work1 and
 school obligations4  7#b7 ,the effect  
of driving distance or availability of  
other forms of transportation to the    
nearest medical facility on access to   
care4  7#c7 ,the effect of access to    
care in the community4  7#d7 ,the       
availability of child care4  7#e7 ,the  
acceptability of integrated primary     
care1 women's health clinics1 or both4  
7#f7 ,the comprehension of eligibility  
requirements for1 and the scope of      
services available under1 hospital care 
and medical services4  7#g7 ,the        
perception of personal safety and       
comfort in inpatient1 outpatient1 and   
behavioral health facilities4  7#h7 ,the
 gender sensitivity of health care      
providers and staff to issues that      

particularly affect women4  7#i7 ,the   
effectiveness of outreach for health    
care services available to women        
veterans4  7#aj7 ,the location and      
operating hours of health care          
facilities that provide services to     
women veterans4  7#aa7 ,the perception  
of women veterans regarding the motto of
 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 
7#ab7 ,such other significant barriers  
as the ,secretary considers appropriate4
  7d7 ,discharge by contract ,the       
,secretary shall enter into a contract  
with a qualified independent entity or  
organization to carry out the study and 
research required under this section4   
7e7 ,mandatory review of data by certain
 department divisions  7#a7 ,in general 
,the ,secretary shall ensure that the   
head of each division of the ,department
 of ,veterans ,affairs specified in     
paragraph 7#b7 reviews the results of   
the study conducted under this section4 
,the head of each such division shall   
submit findings with respect to the     

study to the ,under ,secretary for      
responsibilities relating to health care
 services for women veterans4  7#b7     
,specified divisions ,the divisions of  
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
specified in this paragraph are the     
following3  7,a7 ,the ,under ,secretary 
for ,health4  7,b7 ,the ,office of      
,women's ,health4  7,c7 ,the ,center for
 ,women ,veterans established under     
section #cah of title #ch1 ,united      
,states ,code4  7,d7 ,the ,advisory     
,committee on ,women ,veterans          
established under section #edb of such  
title4  7f7 ,report ,not later than #cj 
months after the date of the enactment  
of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall      
submit to ,congress a report on the     
study required under this section4 ,the 
report shall include recommendations for
 such administrative and legislative    
action as the ,secretary considers      
appropriate4 ,the report shall also     
include the findings of the head of each
 division of the ,department specified  

under subsection 7e77#b7 and of the     
,under ,secretary for ,health4  #cje4   
,report regarding veterans who receive  
benefits under laws administered by the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7   
,report ,not later than #ahj days after 
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs    
shall publish a report regarding        
veterans who receive benefits under laws
 administered by the ,secretary1        
including the ,transition ,assistance   
,program under sections #aadb and #aadd 
of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code4    
7b7 ,data ,the data regarding veterans  
published in the report under subsection
 7a7-- 7#a7 shall be disaggregated by-- 
7,a7 sex2  7,b7 minority group member   
status2 and  7,c7 minority group member 
status listed by sex4  7#b7 may not     
include any personally identifiable     
information4  7c7 ,matters included ,the
 report under subsection 7a7 shall      
include-- 7#a7 identification of any    
disparities in the use of benefits under

 laws administered by the ,secretary2   
and  7#b7 an analysis of the cause of   
such disparities and recommendations to 
address such disparities4  7d7 ,minority
 group member defined ,in this section1 
the term minority group member has the  
meaning given that term in section #edd 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4    
#cjf4 ,study on ,women ,veteran         
,coordinator program ,not later than    
#ahj days after the date of the         
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to   
the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs  
of the ,house of ,representatives and   
the ,senate a report containing a study 
on the ,women ,veteran ,coordinator     
program of the ,veterans ,benefits      
,administration of the ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs4 ,such study shall   
identify the following3 7#a7 ,if the    
program is appropriately staffed at each
 regional benefits office of the        
,department4  7#b7 ,whether each        
regional benefits office of the         

,department is staffed with a ,women    
,veteran ,coordinator4  7#c7 ,the       
position description of the ,women      
,veteran ,coordinator4  7#d7 ,whether an
 individual serving in the ,women       
,veteran ,coordinator position          
concurrently serves in any other        
position1 and if so1 the allocation of  
time the individual spends in each such 
position4  7#e7 ,a description of the   
metrics the ,secretary uses to determine
 the success and performance of the     
,women ,veteran ,coordinator4  ,b ,other
 matters  #cba4 ,anti-harassment and    
anti-sexual assault policy of the       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,in general ,subchapter ,,ii of chapter 
#e of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 
is amended by adding at the end the     
following new section3  #ecc4           
,anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault
 policy  7a7 ,establishment ,the        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
establish a comprehensive policy to end 
harassment and sexual assault1 including

 sexual harassment and gender-based     
harassment1 throughout the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs4 ,this policy     
shall include the following3  7#a7 ,a   
process for employees and contractors of
 the ,department to respond to reported 
incidents of harassment and sexual      
assault committed by any non-,department
 individual within a facility of the    
,department1 including with respect to  
accountability or disciplinary measures4
  7#b7 ,a process for employees and     
contractors of the ,department to       
respond to reported incidents of        
harassment and sexual assault of any    
non-,department individual within a     
facility of the ,department4  7#c7 ,a   
process for any non-,department         
individual to report harassment and     
sexual assault described in paragraph   
7#a71 including an option for           
confidential reporting1 and for the     
,secretary to respond to and address    
such reports4  7#d7 ,clear mechanisms   
for non-,department individuals to      

readily identify to whom and how to     
report incidents of harassment and      
sexual assault committed by another     
non-,department individual4  7#e7 ,clear
 mechanisms for employees and           
contractors of the ,department to       
readily identify to whom and how to     
report incidents of harassment and      
sexual assault and how to refer         
non-,department individuals with respect
 to reporting an incident of harassment 
or sexual assault4  7#f7 ,a process for1
 and mandatory reporting requirement    
applicable to1 any employee or          
contractor of the ,department who       
witnesses harassment or sexual assault  
described in paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b7     
within a facility of the ,department1   
regardless of whether the individual    
affected by such harassment or sexual   
assault wants to report such harassment 
or sexual assault4  7#g7 ,the actions   
possible1 including disciplinary        
actions1 for employees or contractors of
 the ,department who fail to report     

incidents of harassment and sexual      
assault described in paragraph 7#a7 or  
7#b7 that the employees or contractors  
witness4  7#h7 ,on an annual or more    
frequent basis1 mandatory training for  
employees and contractors of the        
,department regarding how to report and 
address harassment and sexual assault   
described in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b71  
including bystander intervention        
training4  7#i7 ,on an annual or more   
frequent basis1 the distribution of the 
policy under this subsection and        
anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault 
educational materials by mail or email  
to each individual receiving a benefit  
under a law administered by the         
,secretary4  7#aj7 ,the prominent       
display of anti-harassment and          
anti-sexual assault messages in each    
facility of the ,department1 including  
how non-,department individuals may     
report harassment and sexual assault    
described in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 at
 such facility and the points of contact

 under subsection 7b74  7#aa7 ,the      
posting on internet websites of the     
,department1 including the main internet
 website regarding benefits of the      
,department and the main internet       
website regarding health care of the    
,department1 of anti-harassment and     
anti-sexual assault banners specifically
 addressing harassment and sexual       
assault described in paragraphs 7#a7 and
 7#b74  7b7 ,points of contact ,the     
,secretary shall designate1 as a point  
of contact to receive reports of        
harassment and sexual assault described 
in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 of          
subsection 7a7--  7#a7 at least one     
individual1 in addition to law          
enforcement1 at each facility of the    
,department 7including ,vet ,centers    
under section #agab;,a of this title71  
with regard to that facility2  7#b7 at  
least one individual employed in each   
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network1
 with regards to facilities in that     
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network2

  7#c7 at least one individual employed 
in each regional benefits office2  7#d7 
at least one individual employed at each
 location of the ,national ,cemetery    
,administration2 and  7#e7 at least one 
individual employed at the ,central     
,office of the ,department to track     
reports of such harassment and sexual   
assault across the ,department1         
disaggregated by facility4  7c7         
,accountability ,the ,secretary shall   
establish a policy to ensure that each  
facility of the ,department and each    
director of a ,veterans ,integrated     
,service ,network is responsible for    
addressing harassment and sexual assault
 at the facility and the ,network4 ,such
 policy shall include--  7#a7 a         
remediation plan for facilities that    
experience five or more incidents of    
sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 or   
combination thereof1 during any single  
fiscal year2 and  7#b7 taking           
appropriate actions under chapter #g or 
subchapter ,v of chapter #gd of this    

title4  7d7 ,data ,the ,secretary shall 
ensure that the in-take process for     
veterans at medical facilities of the   
,department includes a survey to collect
 the following information3 7#a7        
,whether the veteran feels safe at the  
facility and whether any events occurred
 at the facility that affect such       
feeling4  7#b7 ,whether the veteran     
wants to be contacted later by the      
,department with respect to such safety 
issues4  7e7 ,working group  7#a7 ,the  
,secretary shall establish a working    
group to assist the ,secretary in       
implementing policies to carry out this 
section4  7#b7 ,the working group       
established under paragraph 7#a7 shall  
consist of representatives from-- 7,a7  
veterans service organizations2  7,b7   
,state1 local1 and ,tribal veterans     
agencies2 and  7,c7 other persons the   
,secretary determines appropriate4  7#c7
 ,the working group established under   
paragraph 7#a7 shall develop1 and the   
,secretary shall carry out-- 7,a7 an    

action plan for addressing changes at   
the local level to reduce instances of  
harassment and sexual assault2  7,b7    
standardized media for veterans service 
organizations and other persons to use  
in print and on the internet with       
respect to reducing harassment and      
sexual assault2 and  7,c7 bystander     
intervention training for veterans4  7f7
 ,reports ,the ,secretary shall submit  
to the ,committees on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,senate and the ,house  
of ,representatives an annual report on 
harassment and sexual assault described 
in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 of          
subsection 7a7 in facilities of the     
,department4 ,each such report shall    
include the following3 7#a7 ,results of 
harassment and sexual assault           
programming1 including the ,end         
,harassment program4  7#b7 ,results of  
studies from the ,women's ,health       
,practice-,based ,research ,network of  
the ,department relating to harassment  
and sexual assault4  7#c7 ,data         

collected on incidents of sexual        
harassment and sexual assault4  7#d7 ,a 
description of any actions taken by the 
,secretary during the year preceding the
 date of the report to stop harassment  
and sexual assault at facilities of the 
,department4  7#e7 ,an assessment of the
 implementation of the training required
 in subsection 7a77#g74  7#f7 ,a list of
 resources the ,secretary determines    
necessary to prevent harassment and     
sexual assault at facilities of the     
,department4  7g7 ,definitions ,in this 
section3  7#a7 ,the term non-,department
 individual means any individual present
 at a facility of the ,department who is
 not an employee or contractor of the   
,department4  7#b7 ,the term sexual     
harassment has the meaning given that   
term in section #agbj;,d of this title4 
4  7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of
 sections at the beginning of such      
chapter is amended by adding after the  
item relating to section #ecb the       
following new item3  #ecc4              

,anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault
 policy4  4  7c7 ,definition of sexual  
harassment ,section #agbj;,d7f7 of such 
title is amended by striking repeated14 
7d7 ,deadline ,the ,secretary shall     
commence carrying out section #ecc of   
such title1 as added by subsection 7a71 
not later than #ahj days after the date 
of enactment of this ,act4  #cbb4       
,support for organizations that have a  
focus on providing assistance to women  
veterans and their families ,section    
#bjdd7;e7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states 
,code1 is amended by adding at the end  
the following new paragraph3  7#d7      
,there is authorized to be appropriated 
#bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj to    
provide1 under subsection 7a71 financial
 assistance to organizations that have a
 focus on providing assistance to women 
veterans and their families4  4  #cbc4  
,gap analysis of ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs programs that provide
 assistance to women veterans who are   
homeless  7a7 ,in general ,the          

,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
complete an analysis of programs of the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs that  
provide assistance to women veterans who
 are homeless or precariously housed to 
identify the areas in which such        
programs are failing to meet the needs  
of such women4  7b7 ,report ,not later  
than #bgj days 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 analysis completed under        
subsection 7a74  #cbd4 ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs public-private       
partnership on legal services for women 
veterans  7a7 ,partnership required ,the
 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall 
establish a partnership with at least   
one nongovernmental organization to     
provide legal services to women         
veterans4  7b7 ,focus ,the focus of the 
partnership established under subsection

 7a7 shall be on the #aj highest unmet  
needs of women veterans as set forth in 
the most recently completed ,community  
,homelessness ,assessment1 ,local       
,education and ,networking ,groups for  
,veterans 7,,chaleng for ,veterans7     
survey4  #cbe4 ,program to assist       
veterans who experience intimate partner
 violence or sexual assault  7a7        
,program required ,the ,secretary of    
,veterans ,affairs shall carry out a    
program to assist former members of the 
armed forces who have experienced or are
 experiencing intimate partner violence 
or sexual assault in accessing benefits 
from the ,department of ,veterans       
,affairs1 including coordinating access 
to medical treatment centers1 housing   
assistance1 and other benefits from the 
,department4  7b7 ,collaboration ,the   
,secretary shall carry out the program  
under subsection 7a7 in collaboration   
with-- 7#a7 intimate partner violence   
shelters and programs2  7#b7 rape crisis
 centers2  7#c7 ,state intimate partner 

violence and sexual assault coalitions2 
and  7#d7 such other health care or     
other service providers that serve      
intimate partner violence or sexual     
assault victims as determined by the    
,secretary1 particularly those providing
 emergency services or housing          
assistance4  7c7 ,authorized activities 
,in carrying out the program under      
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary may      
conduct the following activities3  7#a7 
,training for community-based intimate  
partner violence or sexual assault      
service providers on-- 7,a7 identifying 
former members of the ,armed ,forces who
 have been victims of intimate partner  
violence or sexual assault2  7,b7       
coordinating with local service         
providers of the ,department2 and  7,c7 
connecting former members of the ,armed 
,forces with appropriate housing1 mental
 health1 medical1 and other financial   
assistance or benefits from the         
,department4  7#b7 ,assistance to       
service providers to ensure access of   

veterans to intimate partner violence   
and sexual assault emergency services1  
particularly in underserved areas1      
including services for ,native ,american
 veterans 7as defined in section #cgfe  
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code74   
7#c7 ,such other outreach and assistance
 as the ,secretary determines necessary 
for the provision of assistance under   
subsection 7a74  7d7 ,intimate partner  
violence and sexual assault outreach    
coordinators  7#a7 ,in general ,in order
 to effectively assist veterans who have
 experienced intimate partner violence  
or sexual assault1 the ,secretary may   
establish local coordinators to provide 
outreach under the program required by  
subsection 7a74  7#b7 ,local coordinator
 knowledge ,the ,secretary shall ensure 
that each coordinator established under 
paragraph 7#a7 is knowledgeable about-- 
7,a7 the dynamics of intimate partner   
violence and sexual assault1 including  
safety concerns1 legal protections1 and 
the need for the provision of           

confidential services2  7,b7 the        
eligibility of veterans for services and
 benefits from the ,department that are 
relevant to recovery from intimate      
partner violence and sexual assault1    
particularly emergency housing          
assistance1 mental health care1 other   
health care1 and disability benefits2   
and  7,c7 local community resources     
addressing intimate partner violence and
 sexual assault4  7#c7 ,local           
coordinator assistance ,each coordinator
 established under paragraph 7#a7 shall 
assist intimate partner violence        
shelters and rape crisis centers in     
providing services to veterans4  #cbf4  
,study and task force on veterans       
experiencing intimate partner violence  
or sexual assault  7a7 ,national        
baseline study  7#a7 ,in general ,not   
later than #a year after the date of the
 enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary 
of ,veterans ,affairs1 in consultation  
with the ,attorney ,general1 shall      
conduct a national baseline study to    

examine the scope of the problem of     
intimate partner violence and sexual    
assault among veterans and spouses and  
intimate partners of veterans4  7#b7    
,matters included ,the study under      
paragraph 7#a7 shall--  7,a7 include a  
literature review of all relevant       
research on intimate partner violence   
and sexual assault among veterans and   
spouses and intimate partners of        
veterans2  7,b7 examine the prevalence  
of the experience of intimate partner   
violence among--  7i7 women veterans2   
7ii7 veterans who are minority group    
members 7as defined in section #edd of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 and   
including other minority populations as 
the ,secretary determines appropriate72 
7iii7 urban and rural veterans2  7iv7   
veterans who are enrolled in a program  
under section #agbj;,g of title #ch1    
,united ,states ,code2  7v7 veterans who
 are in intimate relationships with     
other veterans2 and  7vi7 veterans who  
are described in more than one clause of

 this subparagraph2  7,c7 examine the   
prevalence of the perpetration of       
intimate partner violence by veterans2  
and  7,d7 include recommendations to    
address the findings of the study4  7#c7
 ,report ,not later than #cj days after 
the date on which the ,secretary        
completes the study under paragraph     
7#a71 the ,secretary shall submit to the
 ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of  
the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,senate a report on such study4  7b7    
,task force ,not later than #ij days    
after the date on which the ,secretary  
completes the study under subsection    
7a71 the ,secretary1 in consultation    
with the ,attorney ,general and the     
,secretary of ,health and ,human        
,services1 shall establish a national   
task force 7in this section referred to 
as the ,task ,force7 to develop a       
comprehensive national program1         
including by integrating facilities1    
services1 and benefits of the           
,department of ,veterans ,affairs into  

existing networks of community-based    
intimate partner violence and sexual    
assault services1 to address intimate   
partner violence and sexual assault     
among veterans4  7c7 ,consultation with 
stakeholders ,in carrying out this      
section1 the ,task ,force shall consult 
with-- 7#a7 representatives from veteran
 service organizations and military     
service organizations2  7#b7            
representatives from not fewer than     
three national organizations or ,state  
coalitions with demonstrated expertise  
in intimate partner violence prevention1
 response1 or advocacy2 and  7#c7       
representatives from not fewer than     
three national organizations or ,state  
coalitions1 particularly those          
representing underserved and ethnic     
minority communities1 with demonstrated 
expertise in sexual assault prevention1 
response1 or advocacy4  7d7 ,duties ,the
 duties of the ,task ,force shall       
include the following3 7#a7 ,to review  
existing services and policies of the   

,department and develop a comprehensive 
national program to address intimate    
partner violence and sexual assault     
prevention1 response1 and treatment4    
7#b7 ,to review the feasibility and     
advisability of establishing an         
expedited process to secure emergency1  
temporary benefits1 including housing or
 other benefits1 for veterans who are   
experiencing intimate partner violence  
or sexual assault4  7#c7 ,to review and 
make recommendations regarding the      
feasibility and advisability of         
establishing dedicated1 temporary       
housing assistance for veterans         
experiencing intimate partner violence  
or sexual assault4  7#d7 ,to identify   
any requirements regarding intimate     
partner violence assistance or sexual   
assault response and services that are  
not being met by the ,department and    
make recommendations on how the         
,department can meet such requirements4 
7#e7 ,to review and make recommendations
 regarding the feasibility and          

advisability of providing direct        
services or contracting for             
community-based services for veterans in
 response to a sexual assault1 including
 through the use of sexual assault nurse
 examiners1 particularly in underserved 
or remote areas1 including services for 
,native ,american veterans4  7#f7 ,to   
review the availability of counseling   
services provided by the ,department and
 through peer network support1 and to   
provide recommendations for the         
enhancement of such services1 to        
address-- 7,a7 the perpetration of      
intimate partner violence and sexual    
assault2 and  7,b7 the recovery of      
veterans1 particularly women veterans1  
from intimate partner violence and      
sexual assault4  7#g7 ,to review and    
make recommendations to expand services 
available for veterans at risk of       
perpetrating intimate partner violence4 
7e7 ,report ,not later than #a year     
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 and not less frequently than      

annually thereafter by ,october #a of   
each year1 the ,task ,force shall submit
 to the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs
 and ,congress a report on the          
activities of the ,task ,force1         
including any recommendations for       
legislative or administrative action4   
7f7 ,definitions ,in this section3  7#a7
 ,the term ,native ,american veteran has
 the meaning given that term in section 
#cgfe of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code4  7#b7 ,the term ,state has the   
meaning given that term in section #aja 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4    
,passed the ,house of ,representatives  
,november #ab1 #bjai4;,clerk4