[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3224 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>





                                                 Union Calendar No. 226
116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3224

                          [Report No. 116-281]

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for increased access 
   to Department of Veterans Affairs medical care for women veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 12, 2019

  Ms. Brownley of California introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

                           November 12, 2019

  Additional sponsors: Mr. Aguilar, Ms. Wild, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Ms. 
    Kuster of New Hampshire, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. 
Cisneros, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Rose of New York, Ms. Meng, Ms. Gabbard, Ms. 
Velazquez, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Speier, Mr. Takano, Ms. Moore, Mr. 
  Cuellar, Mr. Rush, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Norton, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Ruiz, Ms. 
Castor of Florida, Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Visclosky, Mr. Correa, Mrs. Lee 
    of Nevada, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Delgado, Mr. Levin of 
 California, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Lamb, Ms. Haaland, Mr. Beyer, and Ms. 
                                Houlahan

                           November 12, 2019

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
 [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 
                               12, 2019]


_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for increased access 
   to Department of Veterans Affairs medical care for women veterans.


 


    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Deborah Sampson 
Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                TITLE I--VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 101. Office of Women's Health in the Department of Veterans 
                            Affairs.
Sec. 102. Expansion of capabilities of women veterans call center to 
                            include text messaging.
Sec. 103. Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs internet 
                            website to provide information on services 
                            available to women veterans.
Sec. 104. Report on Women Veterans Retrofit Initiative.
Sec. 105. Establishment of environment of care standards and 
                            inspections at Department of Veterans 
                            Affairs medical centers.
Sec. 106. Additional funding for primary care and emergency care 
                            clinicians in Women Veterans Health Care 
                            Mini-Residency Program.
Sec. 107. Establishment of women veteran training module for non-
                            Department of Veterans Affairs health care 
                            providers.

                         TITLE II--MEDICAL CARE

Sec. 201. Improved access to Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
                            care for women veterans.
Sec. 202. Counseling and treatment for sexual trauma.
Sec. 203. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans and other 
                            individuals.
Sec. 204. Improvement of health care services provided to newborn 
                            children by Department of Veterans Affairs.

                  TITLE III--REPORTS AND OTHER MATTERS

                          Subtitle A--Reports

Sec. 301. Assessment of effects of intimate partner violence on women 
                            veterans by Advisory Committee on Women 
                            Veterans.
Sec. 302. Study on staffing of Women Veteran Program Manager program at 
                            medical centers of the Department of 
                            Veterans Affairs and training of staff.
Sec. 303. Report on availability of prosthetic items for women veterans 
                            from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 304. Study of barriers for women veterans to health care from the 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 305. Report regarding veterans who receive benefits under laws 
                            administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
                            Affairs.
Sec. 306. Study on Women Veteran Coordinator program.

                       Subtitle B--Other Matters

Sec. 321. Anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault policy of the 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 322. Support for organizations that have a focus on providing 
                            assistance to women veterans and their 
                            families.
Sec. 323. Gap analysis of Department of Veterans Affairs programs that 
                            provide assistance to women veterans who 
                            are homeless.
Sec. 324. Department of Veterans Affairs public-private partnership on 
                            legal services for women veterans.
Sec. 325. Program to assist veterans who experience intimate partner 
                            violence or sexual assault.
Sec. 326. Study and task force on veterans experiencing intimate 
                            partner violence or sexual assault.

                TITLE I--VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 101. OFFICE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS.

    (a) Director of Women's Health.--Subsection (a) of section 7306 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(10) The Director of Women's Health.''.
    (b) Organization of Office.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 73 of title 38, 
        United States Code, is amended by adding at the end of the 
        following new sections:
``Sec. 7310. Office of Women's Health
    ``(a) Establishment.--(1) The Under Secretary for Health shall 
establish and operate in the Veterans Health Administration the Office 
of Women's Health (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 
`Office'). The Office shall be located at the Central Office of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
    ``(2) The head of the Office is the Director of Women's Health 
(hereinafter in this section referred to as the `Director'). The 
Director shall report to the Under Secretary for Health.
    ``(3) The Under Secretary for Health shall provide the Office with 
such staff and other support as may be necessary for the Office to 
carry out effectively its functions under this section.
    ``(4) The Under Secretary for Health may reorganize existing 
offices within the Veterans Health Administration as of the date of the 
enactment of this section in order to avoid duplication with the 
functions of the Office.
    ``(b) Purpose.--The functions of the Office include the following:
            ``(1) To provide a central office for monitoring and 
        encouraging the activities of the Veterans Health 
        Administration with respect to the provision, evaluation, and 
        improvement of women veterans' health care services in the 
        Department.
            ``(2) To develop and implement standards of care for the 
        provision of health care for women veterans in the Department.
            ``(3) To monitor and identify deficiencies in standards of 
        care for the provision of health care for women veterans in the 
        Department, to provide technical assistance to medical 
        facilities of the Department to address and remedy 
        deficiencies, and to perform oversight of implementation of 
        standards of care for women veterans' health care in the 
        Department.
            ``(4) To monitor and identify deficiencies in standards of 
        care for the provision of health care for women veterans 
        provided through the community pursuant to this title, and to 
        provide recommendations to the appropriate office to address 
        and remedy any deficiencies.
            ``(5) To oversee distribution of resources and information 
        related to women veterans' health programming under this title.
            ``(6) To promote the expansion and improvement of clinical, 
        research, and educational activities of the Veterans Health 
        Administration with respect the health care of women veterans.
            ``(7) To provide, as part of the annual budgeting process, 
        recommendations with respect to the amount of funds to be 
        requested for furnishing hospital care and medical services to 
        women veterans pursuant to chapter 17 of this title, including, 
        at a minimum, recommendations that ensure that such amount of 
        funds either reflect or exceed the proportion of veterans 
        enrolled in the patient enrollment system under section 1705 of 
        this title who are women.
            ``(8) To provide recommendations to the Under Secretary for 
        Health with respect to modifying the Veterans Equitable 
        Resource Allocation system to ensure that resource allocations 
        under such system reflect the health care needs of women 
        veterans.
            ``(9) To carry out such other duties as the Under Secretary 
        for Health may require.
    ``(c) Recommendations.--If the Under Secretary for Health 
determines not to implement any recommendation made by the Director 
with respect to the allocation of resources to address the health care 
needs of women veterans, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate 
congressional committees of such determination by not later than 30 
days after the date on which the Under Secretary for Health receives 
the recommendation. Each such notification shall include the following:
            ``(1) The reasoning of the Under Secretary for Health in 
        making such determination.
            ``(2) An alternative, if one is selected, to such 
        recommendation that the Under Secretary for Health will carry 
        out to fulfill the health care needs of women veterans.
    ``(d) Standards of Care.--In this section, the standards of care 
for the provision of health care for women veterans in the Department 
shall include, at a minimum, the following:
            ``(1) Requirement for--
                    ``(A) at least one designated women's health 
                primary care provider at each medical center whose 
                duties include, to the extent practicable, providing 
                training to other health care providers of the 
                Department with respect to the needs of women veterans; 
                and
                    ``(B) at least one designated women's health 
                primary care provider at each community-based 
                outpatient clinic of the Department who may serve 
                female patients as a percentage of the total duties of 
                the provider.
            ``(2) Other requirements as determined by the Under 
        Secretary for Health.
    ``(e) Outreach.--The Director shall ensure that--
            ``(1) not less frequently than biannually, each medical 
        facility of the Department holds a public forum for women 
        veterans that occurs outside of regular business hours; and
            ``(2) not less frequently than quarterly, each medical 
        facility of the Department convenes a focus group of women 
        veterans that includes a discussion of harassment occurring at 
        such facility.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `appropriate congressional committees' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 7310A of this title.
            ``(2) The term `facility of the Department' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 1701(3).
            ``(3) The term `Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation 
        system' means the resource allocation system established 
        pursuant to section 429 of the Departments of Veterans Affairs 
        and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies 
        Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-204; 110 Stat. 2929).
``Sec. 7310A. Annual reports on women's health
    ``(a) Annual Reports.--Not later than December 1 of each year, the 
Director of Women's Health shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report containing the matters under 
subsections (b) through (g).
    ``(b) Office of Women's Health.--Each report under subsection (a) 
shall include a description of--
            ``(1) actions taken by the Office of Women's Health in the 
        preceding fiscal year to improve the Department's provision of 
        health care to women veterans;
            ``(2) any identified deficiencies related to the 
        Department's provision of health care to women veterans and the 
        standards of care established in section 7310 of this title, 
        and the Department's plan to address such deficiencies;
            ``(3) the funding and personnel provided to the Office and 
        whether additional funding or personnel are needed to meet the 
        requirements of such section; and
            ``(4) other information that would be of interest to the 
        appropriate congressional committees with respect to oversight 
        of the Department's provision of health care to women veterans.
    ``(c) Access to Gender-specific Services.--Each report under 
subsection (a) shall include an analysis of the access of women 
veterans to gender-specific services under contracts, agreements, or 
other arrangements with non-Department medical providers entered into 
by the Secretary for the provision of hospital care or medical services 
to veterans. Such analysis shall include data and performance measures 
for the availability of gender specific services, including--
            ``(1) the average wait time between the veteran's preferred 
        appointment date and the date on which the appointment is 
        completed;
            ``(2) the average driving time required for veterans to 
        attend appointments; and
            ``(3) reasons why appointments could not be scheduled with 
        non-Department medical providers.
    ``(d) Locations Where Women Veterans Are Using Health Care.--Each 
report under subsection (a) shall include an analysis of the use by 
women veterans of health care from the Department, including the 
following information:
            ``(1) The number of women veterans who reside in each 
        State.
            ``(2) The number of women veterans in each State who are 
        enrolled in the system of patient enrollment of the Department 
        established and operated under section 1705(a) this title.
            ``(3) Of the women veterans who are so enrolled, the number 
        who have received health care under the laws administered by 
        the Secretary at least one time during the one-year period 
        preceding the submittal of the report.
            ``(4) The number of women veterans who have been seen at 
        each medical facility of the Department during such year.
            ``(5) The number of appointments that women veterans have 
        had at each such facility during such year.
            ``(6) If known, an identification of the medical facility 
        of the Department in each Veterans Integrated Service Network 
        with the largest rate of increase in patient population of 
        women veterans as measured by the increase in unique women 
        veteran patient use.
            ``(7) If known, an identification of the medical facility 
        of the Department in each Veterans Integrated Service Network 
        with the largest rate of decrease in patient population of 
        women veterans as measured by the decrease in unique women 
        veterans patient use.
    ``(e) Models of Care.--Each report under subsection (a) shall 
include an analysis of the use by the Department of general primary 
care clinics, separate but shared spaces, and women's health centers as 
models of providing health care to women veterans. Such analysis shall 
include the following:
            ``(1) The number of facilities of the Department that fall 
        into each such model, disaggregated by Veterans Integrated 
        Service Network and State.
            ``(2) A description of the criteria used by the Department 
        to determine which such model is most appropriate for each 
        facility of the Department.
            ``(3) An assessment of how the Department decides to make 
        investments to modify facilities to a different model.
            ``(4) A description of what, if any, plans the Department 
        has to modify facilities from general primary care clinics to 
        another model.
            ``(5) An assessment of whether any facilities could be 
        modified to a separate but shared space for a women's health 
        center within planned investments under the strategic capital 
        investment planning process of the Department.
            ``(6) An assessment of whether any facilities could be 
        modified to a separate or shared space, or women's health 
        center with minor modifications to existing plans under the 
        strategic capital investment planning process of the 
        Department.
            ``(7) An assessment of whether the Department has a goal 
        for how many facilities should fall into each such model.
    ``(f) Staffing.--Each report under subsection (a) shall include an 
analysis of the staffing of the Department relating to the treatment of 
women, including the following, disaggregated by Veterans Integrated 
Service Network and State (except with respect to paragraph (4)):
            ``(1) The number of women's health centers.
            ``(2) The number of patient aligned care teams of the 
        Department relating to women's health.
            ``(3) The number of full- and part-time gynecologists of 
        the Department.
            ``(4) The number of designated women's health care 
        providers of the Department, disaggregated by facility of the 
        Department.
            ``(5) The number of health care providers of the Department 
        who have completed a mini-residency for women's health care 
        through Women Veterans Health Care Mini-Residency Program of 
        the Department during the one-year period preceding the 
        submittal of the report, and the number that plan to 
        participate in such a mini-residency during the one-year period 
        following such date.
            ``(6) The number of designated women's health care 
        providers of the Department who have sufficient female patients 
        to retain their competencies and proficiencies.
    ``(g) Accessibility and Treatment Options.--Each report under 
subsection (a) shall include an analysis of the accessibility and 
treatment options for women veterans, including the following:
            ``(1) An assessment of wheelchair accessibility of women's 
        health centers of the Department, including, with respect to 
        each such facility, an assessment of such accessibility for 
        each kind of treatment provided at the center, including with 
        respect to radiology and mammography, that addresses all 
        relevant factors, including door sizes, hoists, and equipment.
            ``(2) The options for women veterans to access female 
        mental health providers and primary care providers.
            ``(3) The options for women veterans at medical facilities 
        of the Department with respect to clothing sizes, including for 
        gowns, drawstring pants, and pajamas.
    ``(h) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `appropriate congressional committees' 
        means--
                    ``(A) the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
                House of Representatives and the Senate; and
                    ``(B) the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
                of Representatives and the Senate.
            ``(2) The term `gender-specific services' means 
        mammography, obstetric care, gynecological care, and such other 
        services as the Secretary determines appropriate.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for such 
        chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
        section 7309A the following new items:

``7310. Office of Women's Health.
``7310A. Annual reports on women's health.''.
    (c) Initial Report.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
the initial report under section 7310A of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (b), by not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF CAPABILITIES OF WOMEN VETERANS CALL CENTER TO 
              INCLUDE TEXT MESSAGING.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall expand the capabilities of 
the Women Veterans Call Center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
include a text messaging capability.

SEC. 103. REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INTERNET 
              WEBSITE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON SERVICES AVAILABLE TO 
              WOMEN VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall survey the 
internet websites and information resources of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs in effect on the day before the date of the enactment 
of this Act and publish an internet website that serves as a 
centralized source for the provision to women veterans of information 
about the benefits and services available to them under laws 
administered by the Secretary.
    (b) Elements.--The internet website published under subsection (a) 
shall provide to women veterans information regarding all of the 
services available in the district in which the veteran is seeking such 
services, including, with respect to each medical center and community-
based outpatient clinic in the applicable Veterans Integrated Service 
Network--
            (1) the name and contact information of each women veterans 
        program manager;
            (2) a list of appropriate staff for other benefits 
        available from the Veterans Benefits Administration, the 
        National Cemetery Administration, and such other entities as 
        the Secretary considers appropriate; and
            (3) such other information as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    (c) Updated Information.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
information described in subsection (b) that is published on the 
internet website required by subsection (a) is updated not less 
frequently than once every 90 days.
    (d) Outreach.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall 
ensure that the outreach conducted under section 1720F(i) of title 38, 
United States Code, includes information regarding the internet website 
required by subsection (a).
    (e) Derivation of Funds.--Amounts used by the Secretary to carry 
out this section shall be derived from amounts made available to the 
Secretary to publish internet websites of the Department.

SEC. 104. REPORT ON WOMEN VETERANS RETROFIT INITIATIVE.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs and the Committees on 
Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report 
on requirements to retrofit existing medical facilities of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs with fixtures, materials, and other 
outfitting measures to support the provision of care to women veterans 
at such facilities.
    (b) Elements.--The report under subsection (a) shall include the 
following:
            (1) An assessment of how the Secretary prioritizes 
        retrofitting existing medical facilities to support provision 
        of care to women veterans in comparison to other requirements.
            (2) A five-year plan for retrofitting medical facilities of 
        the Department to support the provision of care to women 
        veterans.

SEC. 105. ESTABLISHMENT OF ENVIRONMENT OF CARE STANDARDS AND 
              INSPECTIONS AT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 
              CENTERS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish 
a policy under which the environment of care standards and inspections 
at medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs include--
            (1) an alignment of the requirements for such standards and 
        inspections with the women's health handbook of the Veterans 
        Health Administration;
            (2) a requirement for the frequency of such inspections;
            (3) delineation of the roles and responsibilities of staff 
        at the medical center who are responsible for compliance;
            (4) the requirement that each medical center submit to the 
        Secretary and make publicly available a report on the 
        compliance of the medical center with the standards; and
            (5) a remediation plan.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
certification in writing that the policy required by subsection (a) has 
been finalized and disseminated to Department all medical centers.

SEC. 106. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PRIMARY CARE AND EMERGENCY CARE 
              CLINICIANS IN WOMEN VETERANS HEALTH CARE MINI-RESIDENCY 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs $1,000,000 for each fiscal year for the 
Women Veterans Health Care Mini-Residency Program of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to provide opportunities for participation in such 
program for primary care and emergency care clinicians.
    (b) Treatment of Amounts.--The amounts authorized to be 
appropriated under subsection (a) shall be in addition to amounts 
otherwise made available to the Secretary for the purposes set forth in 
such subsection.

SEC. 107. ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN VETERAN TRAINING MODULE FOR NON-
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish and make available to community providers a training module 
that is specific to women veterans.
    (b) Community Provider Defined.--In this section, the term 
``community provider'' means a non-Department of Veterans Affairs 
health care provider who provides health care to veterans under the 
laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

                         TITLE II--MEDICAL CARE

SEC. 201. IMPROVED ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 
              CARE FOR WOMEN VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1720J. Medical services for women veterans
    ``(a) Access to Care.--The Secretary shall ensure that women's 
health primary care services are available during regular business 
hours at every medical center and community based outpatient clinic of 
the Department.
    ``(b) Study on Extended Hours of Care.--The Secretary shall conduct 
a study to assess--
            ``(1) the use of extended hours as a means of reducing 
        barriers to care;
            ``(2) the need for extended hours based on interviews with 
        women veterans and employees; and
            ``(3) the best practices and resources required to 
        implement use of extended hours.
    ``(c) Annual Report to Congress.--Not later than September 30 of 
each year, 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 on compliance with subsection (a).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1720I the following new item:

``1720J. Medical services for women veterans.''.

SEC. 202. COUNSELING AND TREATMENT FOR SEXUAL TRAUMA.

    Section 1720D of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``active duty, 
                active duty for training, or inactive duty training'' 
                and inserting ``duty, regardless of duty status or line 
                of duty determination (as that term is used in section 
                12323 of title 10)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``active duty, 
                active duty for training, or inactive duty training'' 
                and inserting ``duty, regardless of duty status or line 
                of duty determination (as that term is used in section 
                12323 of title 10)'';
            (2) by striking ``veteran'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``former member of the Armed Forces'';
            (3) by striking ``veterans'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``former members of the Armed Forces''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) In this section, the term `former member of the Armed Forces' 
includes the following:
            ``(1) A veteran described in section 101(2) of this title.
            ``(2) An individual not described in paragraph (1) who was 
        discharged or released from the Armed Forces under a condition 
        that is not honorable but not--
                    ``(A) a dishonorable discharge; or
                    ``(B) a discharge by court-martial.''.

SEC. 203. COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN VETERANS AND OTHER 
              INDIVIDUALS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1712C the following new section:
``Sec. 1712D. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans and 
              other individuals
    ``(a) Program.--(1) Commencing not later than January 1, 2021, the 
Secretary shall carry out, through the Readjustment Counseling Service 
of the Veterans Health Administration, a program to provide 
reintegration and readjustment services described in subsection (b) in 
group retreat settings to covered individuals, including cohorts of 
women veterans who are eligible for readjustment counseling services 
under section 1712A of this title.
    ``(2) The participation of a covered individual in the program 
under paragraph (1) shall be at the election of the individual.
    ``(b) Covered Services.--The services provided to a covered 
individual under the program under subsection (a)(1) shall include the 
following:
            ``(1) Information on reintegration into the family, 
        employment, and community of the individual.
            ``(2) Financial counseling.
            ``(3) Occupational counseling.
            ``(4) Information and counseling on stress reduction.
            ``(5) Information and counseling on conflict resolution.
            ``(6) Such other information and counseling as the 
        Secretary considers appropriate to assist the individual in 
        reintegration into the family, employment, and community of the 
        veteran.
    ``(c) Biennial Reports.--Not later than December 31, 2022, and each 
even-numbered year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a report on the program under subsection (a)(1).
    ``(d) Covered Individual Defined.--In this section, the term 
`covered individual' means--
            ``(1) Any veteran who is enrolled in the system of annual 
        patient enrollment under section 1705 of this title.
            ``(2) Any survivor or dependent of a veteran who is 
        eligible for medical care under section 1781 of this title.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1712C the following new item:

``1712D. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans and other 
                            individuals.''.

SEC. 204. IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED TO NEWBORN 
              CHILDREN BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Expansion.--Section 1786 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph 
        (1), by striking ``seven days'' and inserting ``14 days''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Annual Report.--Not later than 60 days after the end of each 
fiscal year, 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 on the health care services provided 
under subsection (a) during such fiscal year, including the number of 
newborn children who received such services during such fiscal year.''.
    (b) Authority to Furnish Medically Necessary Transportation for 
Newborn Children of Certain Women Veterans.--Such section is further 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter before paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``and transportation 
                        necessary to receive such services'' after 
                        ``described in subsection (b)''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, except as provided in 
                        subsection (e),'' after ``14 days'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or'';
                    (C) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(3) another location, including a health care facility, 
        if the veteran delivers the child before arriving at a facility 
        described in paragraph (1) or (2).'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by inserting before the period at 
        the end the following: ``, including necessary health care 
        services provided by a facility other than the facility where 
        the newborn child was delivered (including a specialty 
        pediatric hospital) that accepts transfer of the newborn child 
        and responsibility for treatment of the newborn child''; and
            (3) by inserting before subsection (f), as added by 
        subsection (a), the following new subsections:
    ``(c) Transportation.--(1) Transportation furnished under 
subsection (a) to, from, or between care settings to meet the needs of 
a newborn child includes costs for either or both the newborn child and 
parents.
    ``(2) Transportation furnished under subsection (a) is 
transportation by ambulance, including air ambulance, or other 
appropriate medically staffed modes of transportation--
            ``(A) to another health care facility (including a 
        specialty pediatric hospital) that accepts transfer of the 
        newborn child or otherwise provides post-delivery care services 
        when the treating facility is not capable of furnishing the 
        care or services required; or
            ``(B) to a health care facility in a medical emergency of 
        such nature that a prudent layperson reasonably expects that 
        delay in seeking immediate medical attention would be hazardous 
        to life or health.
    ``(3) Amounts paid by the Department for transportation under this 
section shall be derived from the Medical Services appropriations 
account of the Department.
    ``(d) Reimbursement or Payment for Health Care Services or 
Transportation.--(1) Pursuant to regulations the Secretary shall 
prescribe to establish rates of reimbursement and any limitations 
thereto under this section, the Secretary shall directly reimburse a 
covered entity for health care services or transportation services 
provided under this section, unless the cost of the services or 
transportation is covered by an established agreement or contract. If 
such an agreement or contract exists, its negotiated payment terms 
shall apply.
    ``(2)(A) Reimbursement or payment by the Secretary under this 
section on behalf of an individual to a covered entity shall, unless 
rejected and refunded by the covered entity within 30 days of receipt, 
extinguish any liability on the part of the individual for the health 
care services or transportation covered by such payment.
    ``(B) Neither the absence of a contract or agreement between the 
Secretary and a covered entity nor any provision of a contract, 
agreement, or assignment to the contrary shall operate to modify, 
limit, or negate the requirements of subparagraph (A).
    ``(3) In this subsection, the term `covered entity' means any 
individual, transportation carrier, organization, or other entity that 
furnished or paid for health care services or transportation under this 
section.
    ``(e) Exception.--Pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary 
shall prescribe to carry out this section, the Secretary may furnish 
more than 14 days of health care services described in subsection (b), 
and transportation necessary to receive such services, to a newborn 
child based on medical necessity if the child is in need of additional 
care, including a case in which the newborn child has been discharged 
or released from a hospital and requires readmittance to ensure the 
health and welfare of the newborn child.''.
    (c) Treatment of Certain Expenses Already Incurred.--Pursuant to 
such regulations as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe, 
the Secretary may provide reimbursement under section 1786 of title 38, 
United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), health care services 
or transportation services furnished to a newborn child during the 
period beginning on May 5, 2010, and ending on the date of the 
enactment of this Act, if the Secretary determines that, under the 
circumstances applicable with respect to the newborn, such 
reimbursement appropriate.

                  TITLE III--REPORTS AND OTHER MATTERS

                          Subtitle A--Reports

SEC. 301. ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE ON WOMEN 
              VETERANS BY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WOMEN VETERANS.

    Section 542(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new 
        subparagraph (C):
            ``(C) an assessment of the effects of intimate partner 
        violence on women veterans; and''.

SEC. 302. STUDY ON STAFFING OF WOMEN VETERAN PROGRAM MANAGER PROGRAM AT 
              MEDICAL CENTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND 
              TRAINING OF STAFF.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study 
on the use of the Women Veteran Program Manager program of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to determine--
            (1) if the program is appropriately staffed at each medical 
        center of the Department;
            (2) whether each medical center of the Department is 
        staffed with a Women Veteran Program Manager; and
            (3) whether it would be feasible and advisable to have a 
        Women Veteran Program Ombudsman at each medical center of the 
        Department.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, 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 on the study conducted under 
subsection (a).
    (c) Training.--The Secretary shall ensure that all Women Veteran 
Program Managers and Women Veteran Program Ombudsmen receive the proper 
training to carry out their duties.

SEC. 303. REPORT ON AVAILABILITY OF PROSTHETIC ITEMS FOR WOMEN VETERANS 
              FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, 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 availability from the 
Department of Veterans Affairs of prosthetic items made for women 
veterans, including an assessment of the availability of such 
prosthetic items at each medical facility of the Department. The report 
shall--
            (1) address efforts on research, development, and 
        employment of additive manufacture technology (commonly 
        referred to as ``3D printing'') to provide prosthetic items for 
        women veterans; and
            (2) include a survey with a representative sample of 50,000 
        veterans (of which women shall be overrrepresented) in amputee 
        care program on satisfaction with prosthetics furnished or 
        procured by the Department that replace appendages or their 
        function.

SEC. 304. STUDY OF BARRIERS FOR WOMEN VETERANS TO HEALTH CARE FROM THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
conduct a comprehensive study of the barriers to the provision of 
comprehensive health care by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
encountered by women who are veterans. In conducting the study, the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) survey women veterans who seek or receive hospital care 
        or medical services provided by the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs as well as women veterans who do not seek or receive 
        such care or services;
            (2) administer the survey to a representative sample of 
        women veterans from each Veterans Integrated Service Network; 
        and
            (3) ensure that the sample of women veterans surveyed is of 
        sufficient size for the study results to be statistically 
        significant and is a larger sample than that of the study 
        referred to in subsection (b)(1).
    (b) Use of Previous Studies.--In conducting the study required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall build on the work of the studies of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs titled--
            (1) ``National Survey of Women Veterans in Fiscal Year 
        2007-2008''; and
            (2) ``Study of Barriers for Women Veterans to VA Health 
        Care 2015''.
    (c) Elements of Study.--In conducting the study required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct research on the effects of 
the following on the women veterans surveyed in the study:
            (1) The barriers associated with seeking mental health care 
        services, including with respect to provider availability, 
        telehealth access, and family, work, and school obligations.
            (2) The effect of driving distance or availability of other 
        forms of transportation to the nearest medical facility on 
        access to care.
            (3) The effect of access to care in the community.
            (4) The availability of child care.
            (5) The acceptability of integrated primary care, women's 
        health clinics, or both.
            (6) The comprehension of eligibility requirements for, and 
        the scope of services available under, hospital care and 
        medical services.
            (7) The perception of personal safety and comfort in 
        inpatient, outpatient, and behavioral health facilities.
            (8) The gender sensitivity of health care providers and 
        staff to issues that particularly affect women.
            (9) The effectiveness of outreach for health care services 
        available to women veterans.
            (10) The location and operating hours of health care 
        facilities that provide services to women veterans.
            (11) The perception of women veterans regarding the motto 
        of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (12) Such other significant barriers as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate.
    (d) Discharge by Contract.--The Secretary shall enter into a 
contract with a qualified independent entity or organization to carry 
out the study and research required under this section.
    (e) Mandatory Review of Data by Certain Department Divisions.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that the head 
        of each division of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        specified in paragraph (2) reviews the results of the study 
        conducted under this section. The head of each such division 
        shall submit findings with respect to the study to the Under 
        Secretary for responsibilities relating to health care services 
        for women veterans.
            (2) Specified divisions.--The divisions of the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs specified in this paragraph are the 
        following:
                    (A) The Under Secretary for Health.
                    (B) The Office of Women's Health.
                    (C) The Center for Women Veterans established under 
                section 318 of title 38, United States Code.
                    (D) The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans 
                established under section 542 of such title.
    (f) Report.--Not later than 30 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
on the study required under this section. The report shall include 
recommendations for such administrative and legislative action as the 
Secretary considers appropriate. The report shall also include the 
findings of the head of each division of the Department specified under 
subsection (e)(2) and of the Under Secretary for Health.

SEC. 305. REPORT REGARDING VETERANS WHO RECEIVE BENEFITS UNDER LAWS 
              ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish 
a report regarding veterans who receive benefits under laws 
administered by the Secretary, including the Transition Assistance 
Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
    (b) Data.--The data regarding veterans published in the report 
under subsection (a)--
            (1) shall be disaggregated by--
                    (A) sex;
                    (B) minority group member status; and
                    (C) minority group member status listed by sex.
            (2) may not include any personally identifiable 
        information.
    (c) Matters Included.--The report under subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) identification of any disparities in the use of 
        benefits under laws administered by the Secretary; and
            (2) an analysis of the cause of such disparities and 
        recommendations to address such disparities.
    (d) Minority Group Member Defined.--In this section, the term 
``minority group member'' has the meaning given that term in section 
544 of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 306. STUDY ON WOMEN VETERAN COORDINATOR PROGRAM.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees 
on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report containing a study on the Women Veteran Coordinator program of 
the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs. Such study shall identify the following:
            (1) If the program is appropriately staffed at each 
        regional benefits office of the Department.
            (2) Whether each regional benefits office of the Department 
        is staffed with a Women Veteran Coordinator.
            (3) The position description of the Women Veteran 
        Coordinator.
            (4) Whether an individual serving in the Women Veteran 
        Coordinator position concurrently serves in any other position, 
        and if so, the allocation of time the individual spends in each 
        such position.
            (5) A description of the metrics the Secretary uses to 
        determine the success and performance of the Women Veteran 
        Coordinator.

                       Subtitle B--Other Matters

SEC. 321. ANTI-HARASSMENT AND ANTI-SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY OF THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 533. Anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault policy
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish a comprehensive policy to end harassment and sexual assault, 
including sexual harassment and gender-based harassment, throughout the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. This policy shall include the 
following:
            ``(1) A process for employees and contractors of the 
        Department to respond to reported incidents of harassment and 
        sexual assault committed by any non-Department individual 
        within a facility of the Department, including with respect to 
        accountability or disciplinary measures.
            ``(2) A process for employees and contractors of the 
        Department to respond to reported incidents of harassment and 
        sexual assault of any non-Department individual within a 
        facility of the Department.
            ``(3) A process for any non-Department individual to report 
        harassment and sexual assault described in paragraph (1), 
        including an option for confidential reporting, and for the 
        Secretary to respond to and address such reports.
            ``(4) Clear mechanisms for non-Department individuals to 
        readily identify to whom and how to report incidents of 
        harassment and sexual assault committed by another non-
        Department individual.
            ``(5) Clear mechanisms for employees and contractors of the 
        Department to readily identify to whom and how to report 
        incidents of harassment and sexual assault and how to refer 
        non-Department individuals with respect to reporting an 
        incident of harassment or sexual assault.
            ``(6) A process for, and mandatory reporting requirement 
        applicable to, any employee or contractor of the Department who 
        witnesses harassment or sexual assault described in paragraph 
        (1) or (2) within a facility of the Department, regardless of 
        whether the individual affected by such harassment or sexual 
        assault wants to report such harassment or sexual assault.
            ``(7) The actions possible, including disciplinary actions, 
        for employees or contractors of the Department who fail to 
        report incidents of harassment and sexual assault described in 
        paragraph (1) or (2) that the employees or contractors witness.
            ``(8) On an annual or more frequent basis, mandatory 
        training for employees and contractors of the Department 
        regarding how to report and address harassment and sexual 
        assault described in paragraphs (1) and (2), including 
        bystander intervention training.
            ``(9) On an annual or more frequent basis, the distribution 
        of the policy under this subsection and anti-harassment and 
        anti-sexual assault educational materials by mail or email to 
        each individual receiving a benefit under a law administered by 
        the Secretary.
            ``(10) The prominent display of anti-harassment and anti-
        sexual assault messages in each facility of the Department, 
        including how non-Department individuals may report harassment 
        and sexual assault described in paragraphs (1) and (2) at such 
        facility and the points of contact under subsection (b).
            ``(11) The posting on internet websites of the Department, 
        including the main internet website regarding benefits of the 
        Department and the main internet website regarding health care 
        of the Department, of anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault 
        banners specifically addressing harassment and sexual assault 
        described in paragraphs (1) and (2).
    ``(b) Points of Contact.--The Secretary shall designate, as a point 
of contact to receive reports of harassment and sexual assault 
described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a)--
            ``(1) at least one individual, in addition to law 
        enforcement, at each facility of the Department (including Vet 
        Centers under section 1712A of this title), with regard to that 
        facility;
            ``(2) at least one individual employed in each Veterans 
        Integrated Service Network, with regards to facilities in that 
        Veterans Integrated Service Network;
            ``(3) at least one individual employed in each regional 
        benefits office;
            ``(4) at least one individual employed at each location of 
        the National Cemetery Administration; and
            ``(5) at least one individual employed at the Central 
        Office of the Department to track reports of such harassment 
        and sexual assault across the Department, disaggregated by 
        facility.
    ``(c) Accountability.--The Secretary shall establish a policy to 
ensure that each facility of the Department and each director of a 
Veterans Integrated Service Network is responsible for addressing 
harassment and sexual assault at the facility and the Network. Such 
policy shall include--
            ``(1) a remediation plan for facilities that experience 
        five or more incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or 
        combination thereof, during any single fiscal year; and
            ``(2) taking appropriate actions under chapter 7 or 
        subchapter V of chapter 74 of this title.
    ``(d) Data.--The Secretary shall ensure that the in-take process 
for veterans at medical facilities of the Department includes a survey 
to collect the following information:
            ``(1) Whether the veteran feels safe at the facility and 
        whether any events occurred at the facility that affect such 
        feeling.
            ``(2) Whether the veteran wants to be contacted later by 
        the Department with respect to such safety issues.
    ``(e) Working Group.--(1) The Secretary shall establish a working 
group to assist the Secretary in implementing policies to carry out 
this section.
    ``(2) The working group established under paragraph (1) shall 
consist of representatives from--
            ``(A) veterans service organizations;
            ``(B) State, local, and Tribal veterans agencies; and
            ``(C) other persons the Secretary determines appropriate.
    ``(3) The working group established under paragraph (1) shall 
develop, and the Secretary shall carry out--
            ``(A) an action plan for addressing changes at the local 
        level to reduce instances of harassment and sexual assault;
            ``(B) standardized media for veterans service organizations 
        and other persons to use in print and on the internet with 
        respect to reducing harassment and sexual assault; and
            ``(C) bystander intervention training for veterans.
    ``(f) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives an 
annual report on harassment and sexual assault described in paragraphs 
(1) and (2) of subsection (a) in facilities of the Department. Each 
such report shall include the following:
            ``(1) Results of harassment and sexual assault programming, 
        including the End Harassment program.
            ``(2) Results of studies from the Women's Health Practice-
        Based Research Network of the Department relating to harassment 
        and sexual assault.
            ``(3) Data collected on incidents of sexual harassment and 
        sexual assault.
            ``(4) A description of any actions taken by the Secretary 
        during the year preceding the date of the report to stop 
        harassment and sexual assault at facilities of the Department.
            ``(5) An assessment of the implementation of the training 
        required in subsection (a)(7).
            ``(6) A list of resources the Secretary determines 
        necessary to prevent harassment and sexual assault at 
        facilities of the Department.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `non-Department individual' means any 
        individual present at a facility of the Department who is not 
        an employee or contractor of the Department.
            ``(2) The term `sexual harassment' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 1720D of this title.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 
532 the following new item:

``533. Anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault policy.''.
    (c) Definition of Sexual Harassment.--Section 1720D(f) of such 
title is amended by striking ``repeated,''.
    (d) Deadline.--The Secretary shall commence carrying out section 
533 of such title, as added by subsection (a), not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 322. SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A FOCUS ON PROVIDING 
              ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

    Section 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(4) Not less than $20,000,000 shall be available under paragraph 
(1)(H) for the provision of financial assistance under subsection (a) 
to organizations that have a focus on providing assistance to women 
veterans and their families.''.

SEC. 323. GAP ANALYSIS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROGRAMS THAT 
              PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete 
an analysis of programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs that 
provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless or precariously 
housed to identify the areas in which such programs are failing to meet 
the needs of such women.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, 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 on the analysis completed 
under subsection (a).

SEC. 324. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ON 
              LEGAL SERVICES FOR WOMEN VETERANS.

    (a) Partnership Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish a partnership with at least one nongovernmental organization 
to provide legal services to women veterans.
    (b) Focus.--The focus of the partnership established under 
subsection (a) shall be on the 10 highest unmet needs of women veterans 
as set forth in the most recently completed Community Homelessness 
Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups for Veterans (CHALENG 
for Veterans) survey.

SEC. 325. PROGRAM TO ASSIST VETERANS WHO EXPERIENCE INTIMATE PARTNER 
              VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.

    (a) Program Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
carry out a program to assist former members of the armed forces who 
have experienced or are experiencing intimate partner violence or 
sexual assault in accessing benefits from the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, including coordinating access to medical treatment centers, 
housing assistance, and other benefits from the Department.
    (b) Collaboration.--The Secretary shall carry out the program under 
subsection (a) in collaboration with--
            (1) intimate partner violence shelters and programs;
            (2) rape crisis centers;
            (3) State intimate partner violence and sexual assault 
        coalitions; and
            (4) such other health care or other service providers that 
        serve intimate partner violence or sexual assault victims as 
        determined by the Secretary, particularly those providing 
        emergency services or housing assistance.
    (c) Authorized Activities.--In carrying out the program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary may conduct the following activities:
            (1) Training for community-based intimate partner violence 
        or sexual assault service providers on--
                    (A) identifying former members of the Armed Forces 
                who have been victims of intimate partner violence or 
                sexual assault;
                    (B) coordinating with local service providers of 
                the Department; and
                    (C) connecting former members of the Armed Forces 
                with appropriate housing, mental health, medical, and 
                other financial assistance or benefits from the 
                Department.
            (2) Assistance to service providers to ensure access of 
        veterans to intimate partner violence and sexual assault 
        emergency services, particularly in underserved areas, 
        including services for Native American veterans (as defined in 
        section 3765 of title 38, United States Code).
            (3) Such other outreach and assistance as the Secretary 
        determines necessary for the provision of assistance under 
        subsection (a).
    (d) Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault Outreach 
Coordinators.--
            (1) In general.--In order to effectively assist veterans 
        who have experienced intimate partner violence or sexual 
        assault, the Secretary may establish local coordinators to 
        provide outreach under the program required by subsection (a).
            (2) Local coordinator knowledge.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure that each coordinator established under paragraph (1) is 
        knowledgeable about--
                    (A) the dynamics of intimate partner violence and 
                sexual assault, including safety concerns, legal 
                protections, and the need for the provision of 
                confidential services;
                    (B) the eligibility of veterans for services and 
                benefits from the Department that are relevant to 
                recovery from intimate partner violence and sexual 
                assault, particularly emergency housing assistance, 
                mental health care, other health care, and disability 
                benefits; and
                    (C) local community resources addressing intimate 
                partner violence and sexual assault.
            (3) Local coordinator assistance.--Each coordinator 
        established under paragraph (1) shall assist intimate partner 
        violence shelters and rape crisis centers in providing services 
        to veterans.

SEC. 326. STUDY AND TASK FORCE ON VETERANS EXPERIENCING INTIMATE 
              PARTNER VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.

    (a) National Baseline Study.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
        in consultation with the Attorney General, shall conduct a 
        national baseline study to examine the scope of the problem of 
        intimate partner violence and sexual assault among veterans and 
        spouses and intimate partners of veterans.
            (2) Matters included.--The study under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) include a literature review of all relevant 
                research on intimate partner violence and sexual 
                assault among veterans and spouses and intimate 
                partners of veterans;
                    (B) examine the prevalence of the experience of 
                intimate partner violence among--
                            (i) women veterans;
                            (ii) veterans who are minority group 
                        members (as defined in section 544 of title 38, 
                        United States Code, and including other 
                        minority populations as the Secretary 
                        determines appropriate);
                            (iii) urban and rural veterans;
                            (iv) veterans who are enrolled in a program 
                        under section 1720G of title 38, United States 
                        Code;
                            (v) veterans who are in intimate 
                        relationships with other veterans; and
                            (vi) veterans who are described in more 
                        than one clause of this subparagraph;
                    (C) examine the prevalence of the perpetration of 
                intimate partner violence by veterans; and
                    (D) include recommendations to address the findings 
                of the study.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which 
        the Secretary completes the study under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
        of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on such 
        study.
    (b) Task Force.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
Secretary completes the study under subsection (a), the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, shall establish a national task force (in this section 
referred to as the ``Task Force'') to develop a comprehensive national 
program, including by integrating facilities, services, and benefits of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs into existing networks of community-
based intimate partner violence and sexual assault services, to address 
intimate partner violence and sexual assault among veterans.
    (c) Consultation With Stakeholders.--In carrying out this section, 
the Task Force shall consult with--
            (1) representatives from veteran service organizations and 
        military service organizations;
            (2) representatives from not fewer than three national 
        organizations or State coalitions with demonstrated expertise 
        in intimate partner violence prevention, response, or advocacy; 
        and
            (3) representatives from not fewer than three national 
        organizations or State coalitions, particularly those 
        representing underserved and ethnic minority communities, with 
        demonstrated expertise in sexual assault prevention, response, 
        or advocacy.
    (d) Duties.--The duties of the Task Force shall include the 
following:
            (1) To review existing services and policies of the 
        Department and develop a comprehensive national program to 
        address intimate partner violence and sexual assault 
        prevention, response, and treatment.
            (2) To review the feasibility and advisability of 
        establishing an expedited process to secure emergency, 
        temporary benefits, including housing or other benefits, for 
        veterans who are experiencing intimate partner violence or 
        sexual assault.
            (3) To review and make recommendations regarding the 
        feasibility and advisability of establishing dedicated, 
        temporary housing assistance for veterans experiencing intimate 
        partner violence or sexual assault.
            (4) To identify any requirements regarding intimate partner 
        violence assistance or sexual assault response and services 
        that are not being met by the Department and make 
        recommendations on how the Department can meet such 
        requirements.
            (5) To review and make recommendations regarding the 
        feasibility and advisability of providing direct services or 
        contracting for community-based services for veterans in 
        response to a sexual assault, including through the use of 
        sexual assault nurse examiners, particularly in underserved or 
        remote areas, including services for Native American veterans.
            (6) To review the availability of counseling services 
        provided by the Department and through peer network support, 
        and to provide recommendations for the enhancement of such 
        services, to address--
                    (A) the perpetration of intimate partner violence 
                and sexual assault; and
                    (B) the recovery of veterans, particularly women 
                veterans, from intimate partner violence and sexual 
                assault.
            (7) To review and make recommendations to expand services 
        available for veterans at risk of perpetrating intimate partner 
        violence.
    (e) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter 
by October 1 of each year, the Task Force shall submit to the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs and Congress a report on the activities of the Task 
Force, including any recommendations for legislative or administrative 
action.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``Native American veteran'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 3765 of title 38, United States 
        Code.
            (2) The term ``State'' has the meaning given that term in 
        section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 226

116th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 3224

                          [Report No. 116-281]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for increased access 
   to Department of Veterans Affairs medical care for women veterans.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           November 12, 2019

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed