113 HR 3387 IH: Classified Veterans Access to Care Act U.S. House of Representatives 2013-10-30 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3387 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 30, 2013 Ms. Sinema (for herself, Mr. Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. Benishek, Ms. Gabbard, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, and Mr. Hunter) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the mental health treatment provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans who served in classified missions.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Classified Veterans Access to Care Act.

2.

Mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified missions

(a)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that veterans who experience combat-related mental health wounds should have immediate, appropriate, and consistent access to comprehensive mental health care. (b)

In general

Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following section:

1720H.

Mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified missions

(a)

Establishment of standards

(1)The Secretary shall establish standards and procedures to ensure that each covered veteran may access mental health care provided by the Secretary in a manner that fully accommodates the obligation of the veteran to not improperly disclose classified information. (2)The Secretary shall disseminate guidance to employees of the Veterans Health Administration, including mental health professionals, on the standards and procedures established under paragraph (1) and how to best engage covered veterans during the course of mental health treatment with respect to classified information. (b)

Identification

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that a veteran may elect to identify as a covered veteran on an appropriate form. (c)

Definitions

In this section: (1)The term classified information means any information or material that has been determined by an official of the United States pursuant to law, an Executive order, or regulation to require protection against unauthorized disclosure for reasons of national security. (2)The term covered veteran means a veteran who— (A)is enrolled in the health care system established under section 1705(a) of this title; (B)is seeking mental health treatment; and (C)in the course of serving in the Armed Forces, participated in a sensitive mission or served in a sensitive unit. (3)The term sensitive mission means a mission of the Armed Forces that, at the time at which a covered veteran seeks treatment, is classified. (4)The term sensitive unit has the meaning given that term in section 130b(c)(4) of title 10.

. (c)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 1720G the following new item: 1720H. Mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified missions..