,,ii  #aagth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #cjbe  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,october #bj1  
#bjba,mr4 ,tester 7for himself and ,ms4 
,murkowski7 introduced the following    
bill2 which was read twice and referred 
to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs
  ,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 title2 table of contents  7a7
 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as
 the ,servicemembers and ,veterans      
,empowerment and ,support ,act of #bjba4
  7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of  
contents for this ,act is as follows3   
,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of        
contents4,,title ,i--,defining military 
sexual trauma,sec4 #aja4 ,military      
sexual trauma defined for the digital   
age4,,title ,,ii--,disability           
compensation and claims processing,sec4 
#bja4 ,definition of military sexual    

trauma4,sec4 #bjb4 ,conforming changes  
relating to specialized teams to        
evaluate claims involving military      
sexual trauma4,sec4 #bjc4 ,standard of  
proof for service-connection of mental  
health conditions relating to military  
sexual trauma4,sec4 #bjd4 ,choice of    
location of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs medical examination for        
assessment of claims for compensation   
relating to disability resulting from   
military sexual trauma4,sec4 #bje4      
,communications from the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs to military sexual   
trauma survivors4,sec4 #bjf4 ,study on  
training and processing relating to     
claims for disability compensation      
relating to military sexual trauma4,sec4
 #bjg4 ,annual special focus review of  
claims for disability compensation for  
disabilities relating to military sexual
 trauma4,,title ,,iii--,access to       
,health ,care,sec4 #cja4 ,expansion of  
eligibility for counseling and treatment
 for military sexual trauma to include  

all former members of the reserve       
components of the ,armed ,forces4,sec4  
#cjb4 ,connection to ,veterans ,health  
,administration when a disability claim 
related to military sexual trauma is    
submitted to ,veterans ,benefits        
,administration4,sec4 #cjc4 ,study on   
access to inpatient mental health care  
for survivors of military sexual        
trauma4,sec4 #cjd4 ,pilot program for   
interim access to mental health care for
 survivors of military sexual           
trauma4,sec4 #cje4 ,comptroller ,general
 study on access to care for survivors  
of military sexual trauma at the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  ,i  
,defining military sexual trauma  #aja4 
,military sexual trauma defined for the 
digital age  7a7 ,revision to           
regulations required ,the ,secretary of 
,veterans ,affairs shall1 in accordance 
with subsection 7b71 revise regulations 
for the definition of military sexual   
trauma for the purposes of access to    
health care under chapter #ag of title  

#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 and         
compensation under chapter #aa of such  
title4  7b7 ,requirements  7#a7         
,technological abuse  7,a7 ,in general  
,the ,secretary shall ensure that all   
regulations revised under subsection 7a7
 include matters relating to            
technological abuse to reflect sexual   
harassment in the digital age4  7,b7    
,inclusion of certain behavior and      
activities ,for purposes of subparagraph
 7,a71 the term technological abuse may 
include-- 7i7 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 mobile telephones1 apps1
 location tracking devices1 instant     
messages1 text messages1 or other forms 
of technology2 and  7ii7 specific       
activities1 including-- 7,i7 unwanted1  
repeated telephone calls1 text messages1
 instant messages1 or social media      

posts2  7,,ii7 nonconsensual access of  
email accounts1 texts or instant        
messaging accounts1 social networking   
accounts1 or mobile telephone logs2     
7,,iii7 attempting to control or        
restrict a person's ability to access   
technology with the intent to isolate   
the person from support and social      
connection2  7,,iv7 using tracking      
devices or location tracking software   
for the purpose of monitoring or        
stalking another person's location2     
7,v7 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,,vi7 pressuring for or  
sharing of another person's private     
information1 photographs1 or videos     
without the person's consent4  7#b7     
,collaboration ,in carrying out         
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs shall collaborate    
with the ,secretary of ,defense4  7#c7  
,consultation ,in carrying out          

subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs shall consult with   
veterans service organizations1 military
 service organizations1 and other       
stakeholders4  7c7 ,commencement of     
efforts ,not later than one year after  
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
the ,secretary shall commence efforts to
 carry out subsection 7a74  7d7         
,progress report ,not later than one    
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        
progress of the ,secretary in carrying  
out subsection 7a74  7e7 ,final         
regulations ,not later than two years   
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 issue 
the revised regulations required by     
subsection 7a72 and  7#b7 update        
training aids1 manuals1 and             

informational materials for staff1      
veterans1 members of the ,armed ,forces1
 and stakeholders to reflect the revised
 regulations4  ,,ii ,disability         
compensation and claims processing      
#bja4 ,definition of military sexual    
trauma ,in this title1 the term military
 sexual trauma has the meaning given    
such term in section #aafg7;j7 of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by 
section #bjc7;a74  #bjb4 ,conforming    
changes relating to specialized teams to
 evaluate claims involving military     
sexual trauma ,section #aaff7;c7 of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as    
redesignated by section #g7;a7 of the   
,training in ,high-demand ,roles to     
,improve ,veteran ,employment ,act      
7,public ,law #aag-af71 is amended by   
striking ,in this section and all that  
follows and inserting the following3 ,in
 this section1 the terms covered mental 
health condition and military sexual    
trauma have the meanings given those    
terms in section #aafg7;j7 of this      

title44  #bjc4 ,standard of proof for   
service-connection of mental health     
conditions relating to military sexual  
trauma  7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,vi
 of chapter #aa of such title is amended
 by adding at the end the following new 
section3  #aafg4 ,evaluation of claims  
involving military sexual trauma  7a7   
,standard of proof  7#a7 ,in the case of
 any veteran who claims that a covered  
mental health condition based on        
military sexual trauma was incurred in  
or aggravated by 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 evidence1 in  
accordance with subsections 7b7 and 7c71
 of such trauma and an opinion by the   
mental health professional that such    
covered mental health condition is      
related to such military sexual trauma1 
as specified in subsection 7f71         

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  7#b7   
,service-connection of such covered     
mental health condition may be rebutted 
by clear and convincing evidence to the 
contrary4  7#c7 ,the reasons for        
granting or denying service-connection  
in each case shall be recorded in full4 
7b7 ,nonmilitary sources of evidence    
7#a7 ,in carrying out subsection 7a71   
the ,secretary shall ensure that if a   
claim for compensation under this       
chapter is received by the ,secretary   
for a covered mental health condition   
based on military sexual trauma1        
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 trauma4  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  7c7   
,evidence of behavior changes  7#a7 ,in 
carrying out subsection 7a71 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 abuse or substance use  
disorder4  7,d7 ,episodes of depression1
 panic attacks1 or anxiety without an   
identifiable cause4  7,e7 ,unexplained  

economic or social behavior changes4    
7d7 ,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 7b7 and 7c7 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  7e7 ,role of lay statements  
,in a case where evidence described in  
subsection 7b7 or 7c7 is unavailable1   
and the only evidence of the occurrence 
of the military sexual trauma is the    
veteran's own lay statement1 the        
,secretary shall accept such lay        
statement as credible evidence the event
 occurred1 unless such statement is     
inconsistent with the places1 types1 and

 circumstances of the service of the    
veteran1 including evidence of the      
veteran's unit assignments1 military    
specialty1 or dates and locations of    
service1 or unless there is clear and   
convincing evidence to the contrary4    
7f7 ,review of evidence  7#a7 ,in       
reviewing a claim for compensation      
described in subsection 7a77#a71 for any
 evidence identified as part of such    
claim that is described in subsection   
7b7 or 7c71 or if subsection 7e7        
applies1 the ,secretary shall 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 an       
opinion as to whether it is at least as 
likely as not that there is a nexus     
between the military sexual trauma and  
any diagnosed covered mental health     
condition4  7#b7 ,in the case of any    
veteran who submits with the claim for a
 covered mental health condition a lay  

statement describing the military sexual
 trauma1 such veteran shall be provided 
with a medical examination and opinion  
as described in paragraph 7#a7 without  
delay for request of records specified  
in subsections 7b7 and 7c7 from the     
veteran4  7#c7 ,for any veteran         
described in paragraph 7#b71 if the     
medical examination and opinion do not  
result in a diagnosis of a covered      
mental health condition and a positive  
opinion that the military sexual trauma 
is related to such diagnosis1 the       
,secretary shall request the records    
specified in subsections 7b7 and 7c7    
and1 if such evidence is received1      
paragraph 7#a7 shall again apply and a  
subsequent medical examination and      
opinion shall be requested4  7g7 ,point 
of contact ,the ,secretary shall ensure 
that each document provided to a veteran
 relating to a claim for compensation   
described in subsection 7a7 includes    
contact information for an appropriate  
point of contact with the ,department4  

7h7 ,specialized teams ,the ,secretary  
shall ensure that all claims for        
compensation described in subsection 7a7
 are reviewed and processed by a        
specialized team established under      
section #aaff of this title4  7i7 ,rule 
of construction regarding application to
 nonsexual personal assault ,the        
,secretary shall not construe this      
section as supplanting the standard of  
proof or evidence required for claims   
for posttraumatic stress disorder based 
on non-sexual personal assault1 which   
the ,secretary shall continue to define 
in regulation4  7j7 ,definitions ,in    
this section3 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 trauma and which may be 
service-connected4  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 or sexual harassment that      
occurred while the veteran was serving  
in the active military1 naval1 or air   
service4  4  7b7 ,outreach ,not later   
than #ahj days after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall implement1  
with input from the veteran community1  
an informative outreach program for     
veterans regarding the standard of proof
 for evaluation of claims related to    
military sexual trauma1 including       
consideration of lay statements and     
requirements for a medical examination  
and opinion4  7c7 ,clerical amendment   
,the table of sections at the beginning 
of such chapter is amended by adding at 
the end the following new item3  #aafg4 
,evaluation of claims involving military
 sexual trauma4  4  #bjd4 ,choice of    

location of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs medical examination for        
assessment of claims for compensation   
relating to disability resulting from   
military sexual trauma  7a7 ,in general 
,section #aafe of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in the 
section heading1 by inserting and       
location of medical examination after   
examiner2  7#b7 in subsection 7a71 by   
striking a physical assault of a sexual 
nature1 battery of a sexual nature1 or  
sexual harassment and inserting military
 sexual trauma 7as defined in section   
#aafg7;j7 of this title72  7#c7 by      
redesignating subsection 7c7 as         
subsection 7d72 and  7#d7 by inserting  
after subsection 7b7 the following new  
subsection 7c73  7c7 ,choice of         
examination location  7#a7 ,the         
,secretary shall ensure that a veteran  
who requires a medical examination in   
support of a claim described in         
subsection 7a7 may request that the     
medical examination take place at a     

facility of the ,department by a        
qualified employee of the ,department4  
7#b7 ,the ,secretary-- 7,a7 shall grant 
any request under paragraph 7#a72 and   
7,b7 may not issue a decision on a claim
 described in such paragraph before the 
requested examination is completed4  4  
7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of   
sections at the beginning of chapter #aa
 of such title is amended by striking   
the item relating to section #aafe and  
inserting the following new item3       
#aafe4 ,choice of sex of medical        
examiner and location of medical        
examination for certain disabilities4  4
  #bje4 ,communications from the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
military sexual trauma survivors  7a7   
,review board  7#a7 ,in general ,the    
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
establish a board to review             
correspondence relating to military     
sexual trauma4  7#b7 ,membership ,the   
,secretary shall appoint members of the 
board from among experts in military    

sexual trauma and mental health1        
including-- 7,a7 mental health providers
 of the ,department2  7,b7 experts on   
sexual assault and sexual harassment2   
and  7,c7 members from both the         
,veterans ,health ,administration and   
,veterans ,benefits ,administration4    
7#c7 ,duties ,the board established     
under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 review
 all standard correspondence and other  
materials1 which may include templates  
for notices under sections #eajc and    
#eajd;,b of title #ch1 ,united ,states  
,code1 as well as outreach materials and
 veteran-facing website content1 from   
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to
 survivors of military sexual trauma for
 sensitivity2 and  7,b7 ensure that the 
communications-- 7i7 treat survivors    
with dignity and respect2 and  7ii7 do  
not re-traumatize survivors4  7b7       
,contents of written communications to  
military sexual trauma survivors ,the   
,secretary shall ensure that any written
 communication from the ,department of  

,veterans ,affairs to a military sexual 
trauma survivor shall include contact   
information for the following3 7#a7 ,the
 military sexual trauma coordinator of  
the ,veterans ,benefits ,administration4
  7#b7 ,the military sexual trauma      
coordinator for the ,veterans ,health   
,administration4  7#c7 ,the ,veterans   
,crisis ,line4  7#d7 ,the facility of   
the ,veterans ,health ,administration   
closest to where the survivor resides4  
7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 
,military sexual trauma survivor ,the   
term military sexual trauma survivor    
means-- 7,a7 a veteran who has filed a  
claim for compensation under chapter #aa
 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1   
relating to military sexual trauma2     
7,b7 a veteran who has been awarded     
compensation under such chapter relating
 to military sexual trauma2 or  7,c7 a  
former member of the ,armed ,forces or a
 veteran who is receiving care from the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
relating to military sexual trauma4     

7#b7 ,veterans ,crisis ,line ,the term  
,veterans ,crisis ,line means the       
toll-free hotline for veterans          
established under section #agbj;,f7h7 of
 title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4      
#bjf4 ,study on training and processing 
relating to claims for disability       
compensation relating to military sexual
 trauma  7a7 ,study required ,the       
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
conduct a study on-- 7#a7 the quality of
 training provided to personnel of the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs who   
review claims for disability            
compensation under chapter #aa of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 for         
disabilities relating to military sexual
 trauma2 and  7#b7 the quality of the   
procedures of the ,department for       
reviewing the accuracy of the processing
 of such claims4  7b7 ,elements ,the    
study required by subsection 7a7 shall  
include the following3 7#a7 ,with       
respect to the quality of training      
described in paragraph 7#a7 of such     

subsection3 7,a7 ,whether the           
,department ensures personnel complete  
such training on time4  7,b7 ,whether   
the training has resulted in            
improvements to the processing of claims
 described in such subsection and       
issue-based accuracy4  7,c7 ,such       
recommendations as the ,secretary of    
,veterans ,affairs may have for         
improving the training4  7#b7 ,with     
respect to the quality of procedures    
described in paragraph 7#b7 of such     
subsection3 7,a7 ,whether the procedures
 of the ,department for reviewing the   
accuracy of the processing of claims    
described in such subsection comport    
with generally accepted statistical     
methodologies to ensure reasonable      
accuracy of such reviews4  7,b7 ,whether
 such procedures adequately include     
mechanisms to correct errors found in   
such reviews4  7,c7 ,such               
recommendations as the ,secretary may   
have for improving such procedures4  7c7
 ,report required ,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 report detailing the 
findings of the ,secretary with respect 
to the study conducted under subsection 
7a74  #bjg4 ,annual special focus review
 of claims for disability compensation  
for disabilities relating to military   
sexual trauma  7a7 ,annual special focus
 review  7#a7 ,in general ,each year1   
the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits of  
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
shall conduct a special focus review on 
the accuracy of the processing of claims
 for disability compensation under      
chapter #aa of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 for disabilities relating
 to military sexual trauma4  7#b7       
,elements ,each review conducted under  
paragraph 7#a7 shall include a review of
 the following3 7,a7 ,a statistically   
significant1 nationally representative  

sample of all claims for benefits under 
the laws administered by the ,secretary 
of ,veterans ,affairs relating to       
military sexual trauma filed during the 
fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in
 which the report is submitted4  7,b7   
,the accuracy of each decision made with
 respect to each claim described in     
subparagraph 7,a74  7,c7 ,the types of  
benefit entitlement errors found1       
disaggregated by category4  7,d7 ,trends
 from year to year4  7,e7 ,training     
completion rates for personnel of the   
,department who process claims described
 in paragraph 7#a74  7b7 ,reprocessing  
of claims ,if the ,under ,secretary     
finds1 pursuant to a special focus      
review conducted under subsection       
7a77#a71 that an error was made with    
respect to the entitlement of a veteran 
to a benefit under the laws administered
 by the ,secretary1 the ,secretary shall
 return the relevant claim of the       
veteran to the appropriate regional     
office of the ,department for           

reprocessing to ensure that the veteran 
receives an accurate decision with      
respect to the claim4  7c7              
,re-,reviewing of claims ,if the ,under 
,secretary finds1 pursuant to a special 
focus review conducted under paragraph  
7#a7 of subsection 7a71 that the        
accuracy rate1 under paragraph 7#b77;,b7
 of such subsection1 is less than #ij   
percent1 the ,secretary shall conduct a 
review of each claim for benefits under 
the laws administered by the ,secretary 
of ,veterans ,affairs relating to       
military sexual trauma filed during the 
fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in
 which the report is submitted4  7d7    
,report ,section #eeja7;b77#b7 of the   
,johnny ,isakson and ,david ,p4 ,roe1   
,m4,d4 ,veterans ,health ,care and      
,benefits ,improvement ,act of #bjbj    
7,public ,law #aaf-cae2 #acd ,stat4     
#ejdh7 is amended by adding at the end  
the following new subparagraph3  7,i7   
,the findings of the most recent special
 focus review conducted under subsection

 7a77#a7 of section #bjg of the         
,servicemembers and ,veterans           
,empowerment and ,support ,act of #bjba1
 including-- 7i7 the elements under     
subsection 7a77#b7 of such section2     
7ii7 the number of claims returned for  
reprocessing under subsection 7b7 of    
such section2 and  7iii7 the number of  
claims described in clause 7ii7 for     
which the decision relating to          
service-connection or entitlement to    
compensation changed as a result of     
reprocessing the claim4  4  ,,iii       
,access to ,health ,care  #cja4         
,expansion of eligibility for counseling
 and treatment for military sexual      
trauma to include all former members of 
the reserve components of the ,armed    
,forces ,section #agbj;,d of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
striking subsections 7f7 and 7g7 and    
inserting the following new subsection  
7f73  7f7 ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the   
term former member of the ,armed ,forces
 means a person who served on active    

duty1 active duty for training1 or      
inactive duty training1 and who was     
discharged or released therefrom under  
any condition that is not-- 7,a7 a      
discharge by court-martial2 or  7,b7 a  
discharge subject to a bar to benefits  
under section #ecjc of this title4  7#b7
 ,the term military sexual trauma means1
 with respect to a former member of the 
,armed ,forces1 a physical assault of a 
sexual nature1 battery of a sexual      
nature1 or sexual harassment which      
occurred while the former member of the 
,armed ,forces was serving on duty1     
regardless of duty status or line of    
duty determination 7as that term is used
 in section #abcbc of title #aj74  7#c7 
,the term sexual harassment means       
unsolicited verbal or physical contact  
of a sexual nature which is threatening 
in character4  4  #cjb4 ,connection to  
,veterans ,health ,administration when a
 disability claim related to military   
sexual trauma is submitted to ,veterans 
,benefits ,administration  7a7 ,in      

general ,not later than #ad days after  
the date on which a veteran submits a   
claim for disability compensation to the
 ,veterans ,benefits ,administration for
 a disability related to military sexual
 trauma1 the ,secretary of ,veterans    
,affairs shall send a communication to  
the veteran with the following          
information3 7#a7 ,the contact          
information for the nearest military    
sexual trauma coordinator for the       
veteran at the ,veterans ,benefits      
,administration and a description of the
 assistance such coordinator can        
provide4  7#b7 ,the contact information 
for the nearest military sexual trauma  
coordinator for the veteran at the      
,veterans ,health ,administration and a 
description of the assistance such      
coordinator can provide4  7#c7 ,the     
types of services that survivors of     
military sexual trauma are eligible to  
receive from the ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs1 including the       
nearest locations and the contact       

information for such services4  7#d7    
,the contact information for the        
,veterans ,crisis ,line established     
under section #agbj;,f7h7 of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code4  7#e7 ,such other
 information on services1 care1 or      
resources for military sexual trauma as 
the ,secretary determines appropriate4  
7b7 ,definition of military sexual      
trauma ,in this section1 the term       
military sexual trauma has the meaning  
given such term in section #aafg7;j7 of 
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as    
added by section #bjc7;a74  #cjc4 ,study
 on access to inpatient mental health   
care for survivors of military sexual   
trauma  7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary 
of ,veterans ,affairs shall conduct a   
study on access to inpatient mental     
health care for current and former      
members of the ,armed ,forces who are   
survivors of military sexual trauma4    
7b7 ,elements ,the study required by    
subsection 7a7 shall include the        
following3 7#a7 ,an assessment of the   

availability of bed spaces in the mental
 health residential rehabilitation      
treatment programs of the ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs for survivors of    
military sexual trauma1 including the   
suitability of those programs for such  
survivors and the wait times for        
services under those programs4  7#b7 ,an
 assessment of geographic disparities in
 access to those programs for survivors 
of military sexual trauma1 including by 
region and by rural and urban areas4    
7#c7 ,an assessment of alternative care 
options provided when a survivor of     
military sexual trauma is waiting for   
inpatient care1 the efficacy of those   
alternatives1 and the satisfaction of   
patients with those alternatives4  7#d7 
,recommendations for reducing the       
average wait time for services under    
those programs to #ad days or less1     
including by increasing bed space or    
addressing staffing needs4  7#e7 ,an    
assessment of the satisfaction of       
patients with the tracks of those       

programs specific to military sexual    
trauma1 the wait times for services     
under those tracks1 and recommendations 
for increasing or changing the number of
 locations for services under those     
tracks to better meet the needs of      
survivors of military sexual trauma4    
7c7 ,report ,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 report detailing the 
findings of the study required by       
subsection 7a74  7d7 ,definition of     
military sexual trauma ,in this section1
 the term military sexual trauma has the
 meaning given such term in section     
#agbj;,d7f7 of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 as added by section #cja4
  #cjd4 ,pilot program for interim      
access to mental health care for        
survivors of military sexual trauma  7a7
 ,in general ,commencing not later than 

one year after the date of the enactment
 of this ,act1 the ,secretary of        
,veterans ,affairs shall carry out a    
pilot program to provide intensive      
outpatient mental health care to current
 and former members of the ,armed       
,forces who are survivors of military   
sexual trauma when the wait times for   
inpatient mental health care from the   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
the survivor is more than #ad days4  7b7
 ,duration ,the ,secretary shall carry  
out the pilot program under subsection  
7a7 for a three-year period beginning on
 the commencement of the pilot program4 
7c7 ,locations  7#a7 ,in general ,the   
,secretary shall carry out the pilot    
program under subsection 7a7 at not     
fewer than four ,veterans ,integrated   
,service ,networks of the ,department4  
7#b7 ,selection of locations ,in        
selecting locations for the pilot       
program under subsection 7a71 the       
,secretary shall select locations that  
have the longest wait times for         

inpatient mental health care1           
particularly for survivors of military  
sexual trauma4  7#c7 ,notification      
,before commencing the pilot program    
under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary    
shall notify the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives of the  
locations selected for the pilot        
program4  7d7 ,types of services        
,subject to the preference of the       
survivor participating in the pilot     
program under subsection 7a7 and the    
capacity of facilities of the           
,department1 the ,secretary may provide 
services under the pilot program via    
telehealth or at community-based        
outpatient clinics of the ,department4  
7e7 ,participation  7#a7 ,clarification 
on participation ,participation by a    
survivor in the pilot program under     
subsection 7a7 shall be during the      
period in which the survivor is waiting 
for an inpatient bed opening and shall  

not disqualify the survivor from        
receiving inpatient mental health care  
following their participation in the    
pilot program4  7#b7 ,decisions on      
participation ,decisions about the      
participation of a survivor in the pilot
 program and the transition of the      
survivor to inpatient mental health care
 shall be made by the survivor and their
 health care provider4  7f7 ,report ,not
 later than #ahj days after the         
conclusion of the pilot program under   
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall    
submit to ,congress a report on-- 7#a7  
participation in the pilot program2     
7#b7 clinical outcomes under the pilot  
program2 and  7#c7 such recommendations 
for continuation or termination of the  
program as the ,secretary may have1     
including recommendations for           
legislative or administrative action4   
7g7 ,definition of military sexual      
trauma ,in this section1 the term       
military sexual trauma has the meaning  
given such term in section #agbj;,d7f7  

of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as 
added by section #cja4  #cje4           
,comptroller ,general study on access to
 care for survivors of military sexual  
trauma at the ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,the          
,comptroller ,general of the ,united    
,states shall conduct a study on access 
to mental health care for survivors of  
military sexual trauma at facilities of 
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  
7b7 ,elements ,the study conducted under
 subsection 7a7 shall include an        
assessment of the following3 7#a7 ,the  
availability of inpatient and outpatient
 services1 including wait times and     
geographic disparities for such         
services4  7#b7 ,the availability of    
other types of training and support     
services for survivors of military      
sexual trauma1 such as the ,parenting   
,,stair program of the ,department4     
7#c7 ,the communication and             
advertisement by the ,department of the 
care1 services1 and resources available 

for such survivors4  7#d7 ,the barriers 
to accessing mental health care at a    
facility of the ,department for such    
survivors1 including transportation1    
child care1 lack of telehealth1 and     
more4  7#e7 ,the barriers to mental     
health care at facilities of the        
,department for such survivors of each  
gender1 including the unique            
considerations for male survivors versus
 female survivors4  7#f7 ,the extent to 
which the ,secretary has assessed the   
quality of the training provided to     
providers of the ,department on military
 sexual trauma and made any adjustments 
in response to such assessment4  7#g7   
,the role of ,vet ,centers in providing 
care to such survivors1 including       
current and former members of the ,armed
 ,forces4  7#h7 ,the role of military   
sexual trauma coordinators of the       
,veterans ,health ,administration in    
coordinating and providing care for such
 survivors at facilities of the         
,department4  7#i7 ,any current actions 

by the ,secretary to strengthen access  
to high-quality care for such survivors 
and such recommendations for improving  
access to care for such survivors as the
 ,comptroller ,general considers        
appropriate4  7c7 ,report ,not later    
than two years after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller
 ,general shall submit to ,congress a   
report on the findings of the study     
conducted under subsection 7a74  7d7    
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7     
,military sexual trauma ,in this        
section1 the term military sexual trauma
 has the meaning given such term in     
section #agbj;,d7f7 of title #ch1       
,united ,states ,code1 as added by      
section #cja4  7#b7 ,vet ,center ,the   
term ,vet ,center has the meaning given 
that term in section #agab;,a7h7 of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4