H.R. 8354 — Reported in House

IB Union Calendar No. 507 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8354 [Report No. 116–618] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 23, 2020Ms. Escobar (for herself and Mr. Taylor) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary December 7, 2020Additional sponsors: Mr. Cicilline, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Correa, Mr. Nadler, and Mr. Neguse December 7, 2020Reported from the Committee on the Judiciary; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To establish the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative within the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative Act of 2020. 2. Servicemembers and veterans initiative (a) Establishment There is established the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative within the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. (b) Duties The Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative shall— (1) serve as legal and policy advisor to the Attorney General on the Department of Justice’s efforts to enforce criminal and civil laws that impact servicemembers, veterans, and their families; (2) develop policy recommendations for the Attorney General on how the Department of Justice may improve enforcement of Federal law to support servicemembers, veterans, and their families; (3) serve as the liaison and point of contact between the Department of Justice and the military departments; (4) provide counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs to ensure funding decisions take into account servicemembers, veterans, and their families; (5) consult with components of the Department of Justice to promote the provision of civil legal aid to servicemembers, veterans, and their families; (6) serve as a liaison with the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division to coordinate the prosecution of Federal crimes involving fraud that target servicemembers; and (7) enforce other Federal laws that protect servicemembers and veterans, as the Attorney General determines appropriate. December 7, 2020Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed