,i  #aag? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #fifa  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,m>* #g1 #bjbb,mr4    
,mrvan introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to improve he>+s  
be=e ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals reg>d+
 claims involv+ milit>y sexual trauma4  
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,dignity = ,,m/ ,survivors ,act4  #b4 
,requirem5t = tra9+ on claims involv+   
milit>y sexual trauma prior to assignm5t
 ( c]ta9 proce$+s  7a7 ,requirem5t      
,section #gajb ( title #ch1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+ new subsection3  7c7 7#a7 ,!   
,secret>y %all ensure t !re is (f]$ to  
ea* memb] ( ! ,bo>d an annual tra9+ on  
milit>y sexual trauma & proce$+s t      
conc]n a claim = comp5sation bas$ on    
milit>y sexual trauma exp]i5c$ by a     
vet]an4  7#b7 ,a proce$+ t conc]ns a    
claim specifi$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 may n be 
assign$ to an individual memb] ( ! ,bo>d

 or to a panel ( memb]s unless !        
individual memb]1 or ea* memb] ( !      
panel1 z ! case may be1 has complet$ !  
annual tra9+ mo/ rec5tly (f]$ to t memb]
 pursuant to su* p>agraph4  7#c7 ,9 ?is 
subsection1 ! t]m milit>y sexual trauma 
has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section        
#aaff7;c7 ( ?is title4  4  7b7 ,fir/    
tra9+ ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  
%all ensure t ea* memb] ( ! ,bo>d (     
,vet]ans' ,appeals is (f]$ ! fir/ annual
 tra9+ "u section #gajb7;c7 ( title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z am5d$ by        
subsection 7a71 by n lat] ?an #ahj days 
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4    
7c7 ,applicability ,! limitation "u     
section #gajb7;c77#b7 ( title #ch1      
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z add$ by          
subsection 7a71 %all apply ) respect to 
! assignm5t ( proce$+s on or aft] ! date
 t is #ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t
 ( ?is ,act4  #c4 ,review ( language &  
practices us$ 9 connection ) claims     
involv+ milit>y sexual trauma  7a7 ,bo>d
 ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals  7#a7 ,9 g5]al    

,section #gaab ( title #ch1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7,a7 by ins]t+ 
7a7 ,rem&$ claims4-- be=e ,! ,secret>y2 
&  7,b7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new   
subsections3  7b7 ,claims involv+       
milit>y sexual trauma ,! ,bo>d %all     
promptly det]m9e :e!r a notice (        
disagreem5t fil$ ) ! ,bo>d is a cov]$   
case4  7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3  
7#a7 ,! t]m cov]$ case means a case--   
7,a7 t conc]ns a claim = comp5sation    
bas$ on milit>y sexual trauma2 &  7,b7 =
 :i* ! appellant has reque/$ a he>+ 9 ! 
notice ( disagreem5t fil$ ) ! ,bo>d     
pursuant to section #gaje ( ?is title4  
7#b7 ,! t]m milit>y sexual trauma has ! 
mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section #aaff ( ?is  
title4  4  7#b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5ts  7,a7 
,section head+ ,! head+ ( su* section is
 am5d$ by /rik+ rem&$ & ins]t+ c]ta94   
7,b7 ,table ( sections ,! table (       
sections at ! beg9n+ ( *apt] #ga ( su*  
title is am5d$ by /rik+ ! item relat+ to
 section #gaab & ins]t+ ! foll[+3       
#gaab4 ,exp$it$ treatm5t ( c]ta9 claims4

  4  7b7 ,audit & modification ( d5ial  
lett]s  7#a7 ,requirem5t ,! ,secret>y ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs %all conduct an audit 
( ! language us$ 9 lett]s s5t to        
individuals to expla9 ! decision by !   
,secret>y to d5y cov]$ claims4 ,n lat]  
?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all modify !    
lett]s to ensure t-- 7,a7 ! lett]s use  
trauma-in=m$ language2 &  7,b7 vet]ans  
are n re-traumatiz$ ?r\gh ins5sitive    
language4  7#b7 ,consultation ,!        
,secret>y %all c>ry out p>agraph 7#a7 9 
consultation ) vet]ans s]vice           
organizations & o!r /akehold]s z !      
,secret>y det]m9es appropriate4  7c7    
,exam9ations ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli%  
protocols = contract m$ical provid]s to 
ensure t ! m$ical provid]s conduct      
exam9ations reg>d+ cov]$ claims us+     
trauma-in=m$ practices4  7d7 ,def9itions
 ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,! t]m comp5sation
 has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section #aja (
 title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#b7  
,! t]m contract m$ical provid] means a  

m$ical provid] :o contracts ) !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to provide
 a m$ical exam9ation or a m$ical op9ion 
:5 su* an exam9ation or op9ion is       
necess>y to make a decision on a claim  
"u ! laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs4  7#c7 ,! t]m cov]$   
claim means a claim = comp5sation bas$  
on milit>y sexual trauma exp]i5c$ by a  
vet]an4  7#d7 ,! t]m milit>y sexual     
trauma has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section 
#aaff ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4 
7#e7 ,! t]m trauma-in=m$ means1 )       
respect to language or practices1 us+   
language or c>ry+ out practices 9 a     
mann] t-- 7,a7 is bas$ on a k ( !       
aw>5ess ( ! preval5ce & impact ( trauma 
on ! physical1 emotional1 & m5tal heal? 
( an individual1 ! behaviors ( !        
individual1 & ! engagem5t by !          
individual to s]vices2  7,b7 is aim$ at 
ensur+ environm5ts & s]vices are welcom+
 & engag+ to ! individual :o receives   
su* s]vices & ! /aff :o provide su*     
s]vices2 &  7,c7 ensures t ! language or

 practices d n retraumatize !           
individual4