,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bjad ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ae1 #bjbc,ms4 ,rosen 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,ernst1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 and ,mr4 ,sullivan7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to ensure that certain members of the ,armed ,forces who served in female cultural support teams receive proper credit for such service1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,credit for certain members of the ,armed ,forces who served in female cultural support teams 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,in #bjaj1 the ,commander of ,united ,states ,special ,operations ,command established the ,cultural ,support ,team ,program to overcome significant intelligence gaps during the ,global ,war on ,terror4 7#b7 ,from #bjaj through #bjba1 approximately #caj female members1 from every ,armed ,force1 passed and were selected as members of female cultural support teams1 and deployed with special operations forces4 7#c7 ,members of female cultural support teams served honorably1 demonstrated commendable courage1 overcame such intelligence gaps1 engaged in direct action1 and suffered casualties during the ,global ,war on ,terror4 7#d7 ,the ,federal ,government has a duty to recognize members and veterans of female cultural support teams who volunteered to join the ,armed ,forces1 to undergo arduous training for covered service1 and to execute dangerous and classified missions in the course of such covered service4 7#e7 ,members who performed covered service have sought treatment from the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs for traumatic brain injuries1 post-traumatic stress1 and disabling physical trauma incurred in the course of such covered service1 but have been denied such care4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that individuals who performed covered service performed exceptional service to the ,united ,states4 7c7 ,military service3 records2 calculation of retired pay ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 each ,secretary concerned shall-- 7#a7 ensure that the performance of covered service is included in-- 7,a7 the military service record of each individual who performed covered service2 and 7,b7 the computation of retired pay for each individual who performed covered service2 and 7#b7 transmit to the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs a list of each veteran who performed covered service whose military service record was modified pursuant to paragraph 7#a74 7d7 ,claims for veterans benefits arising from covered service 7#a7 ,determination of service connection ,upon the filing of a claim by an individual described in paragraph 7#c77;,c7 for service-connected disability or death incurred or aggravated in the course of covered service1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall-- 7,a7 determine whether such disability or death was service-connected2 and 7,b7 adjust the computation of any disability compensation awarded accordingly4 7#b7 ,treatment of covered service ,in the consideration of a claim under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall treat covered service as engagement in combat with the enemy in the course of active military1 naval1 air1 or space service4 7#c7 ,effective date of award 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided by subparagraph 7,b71 the effective date of an award under this subsection shall be determined in accordance with section #eaaj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7,b7 ,exception ,notwithstanding subsection 7g7 of such section1 the ,secretary shall determine the effective date of an award based on a claim under this subsection for an individual described in subparagraph 7,c7 by treating the date on which the individual filed the initial claim specified in clause 7i7 of such subparagraph as the date on which the individual filed the claim so awarded under this section4 7,c7 ,eligible individuals ,an individual described in this subparagraph is an individual who performed covered service1 or a survivor of such an individual-- 7i7 who1 before the date of the enactment of this ,act1 submitted a claim for service-connected disability or death of such individual2 7ii7 whose such claim was denied by reason of the claim not establishing that the disability or death was service-connected2 7iii7 who submits a claim during the period of three years beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 for the same condition covered by the prior claim under clause2 and 7iv7 whose such claim is approved pursuant to this subsection4 7#d7 ,processing of claims ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,defense1 shall improve training and guidance for employees who may process a claim under this subsection4 7#e7 ,outreach 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall conduct outreach to inform individuals who performed covered service 7and survivors of such individuals7 that they may submit supplemental claims for service-connected disability or death incurred or aggravated in the course of covered service4 7,b7 ,elements ,outreach conducted pursuant to subparagraph 7,a7 shall include the following3 7i7 ,contact individuals described in subparagraph 7,a71 especially individuals who are veterans included in the list transmitted pursuant to subsection 7c77#b7 and survivors of such veterans1 directly to inform them of the treatment of covered service described in subsection 7d77#b7 and that they may submit supplemental claims as described in such subparagraph4 7ii7 ,publishing on the internet website of the ,department a notice that such individuals may elect to file a supplemental claim4 7iii7 ,notifying1 in writing or by electronic means1 veterans service organizations of the ability of such individuals to file a supplemental claim4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,active military1 naval1 air1 or space service ,the term active military1 naval1 air1 or space service has the meaning given such term in section #aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,covered service ,the term covered service means service-- 7,a7 as a member of the ,armed ,forces2 7,b7 in a female cultural support team2 7,c7 with the personnel development skill identifier of ,r#b;,j or #e;,,dk1 or any other validation methods1 such as valid sworn statements1 officer and enlisted performance evaluations1 training certificates1 or records of an award from completion of tour with a cultural support team2 and 7,d7 during the period beginning on ,january #a1 #bjaj1 and ending on ,august #ca1 #bjba4 7#c7 ,secretary concerned ,the term ,secretary concerned has the meaning given such term in section #aja of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#d7 ,service-connected ,the term service-connected has the meaning given such term in section #aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#e7 ,veteran ,the term veteran has the meaning given such term in section #aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4