[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1753 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1753

To ensure that certain members of the Armed Forces who served in female 
     cultural support teams receive proper credit for such service.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 23, 2023

  Mr. Issa (for himself, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. Crow, and Ms. 
  Houlahan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To ensure that certain members of the Armed Forces who served in female 
     cultural support teams receive proper credit for such service.

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

SECTION 1. CREDIT FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO SERVED IN 
              FEMALE CULTURAL SUPPORT TEAMS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) In 2010, the Commander of United States Special 
        Operations Command established the Cultural Support Team 
        Program to overcome significant intelligence gaps during the 
        Global War on Terror.
            (2) From 2010 through 2021, approximately 310 female 
        members, from every Armed Force, passed and were selected as 
        members of female cultural support teams, and deployed with 
        special operations forces.
            (3) Members of female cultural support teams served 
        honorably, demonstrated commendable courage, overcame such 
        intelligence gaps, engaged in direct action, and suffered 
        casualties during the Global War on Terror.
            (4) The Federal Government has a duty to recognize members 
        and veterans of female cultural support teams who volunteered 
        join the Armed Forces, to undergo arduous training for covered 
        service, and to execute dangerous and classified missions in 
        the course of such covered service.
            (5) Members who performed covered service have sought 
        treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs for traumatic 
        brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, and disabling physical 
        trauma incurred in the course of such covered service, but have 
        been denied such care.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the Sense of Congress that 
individuals who performed covered service performed exceptional service 
to the United States.
    (c) Military Service: Records; Calculation of Retired Pay.--Not 
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary concerned shall ensure that the performance of covered 
service is included in--
            (1) the military service record of each individual who 
        performed covered service; and
            (2) the computation of retired pay for each individual who 
        performed covered service.
    (d) Claims for Veterans Benefits Arising From Covered Service.--
            (1) Determination of service connection.--Upon the filing 
        of a claim by an individual described in paragraph (3)(C) for 
        service-connected disability or death incurred or aggravated in 
        the course of covered service, the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs shall determine whether such disability or death was 
        service-connected.
            (2) Treatment of covered service.--In the consideration of 
        a claim under this subsection, the Secretary shall treat 
        covered service as engagement in combat with the enemy in the 
        course of active military, naval, air, or space service.
            (3) Effective date of award.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided by subparagraph 
                (B), the effective date of an award under this 
                subsection shall be determined in accordance with 
                section 5110 of title 38, United States Code.
                    (B) Exception.--Notwithstanding subsection (g) of 
                such section, the Secretary shall determine the 
                effective date of an award based on a claim under this 
                subsection for an individual described in subparagraph 
                (C) by treating the date on which the individual filed 
                the initial claim specified in clause (i) of such 
                subparagraph as the date on which the individual filed 
                the claim so awarded under this section.
                    (C) Eligible individuals.--An individual described 
                in this subparagraph is an individual who performed 
                covered service, or a survivor of such an individual--
                            (i) who, before the date of the enactment 
                        of this Act, submitted a claim for service-
                        connected disability or death of such 
                        individual;
                            (ii) whose such claim was denied by reason 
                        of the claim not establishing that the 
                        disability or death was service-connected;
                            (iii) who submits a claim during the period 
                        of three years beginning on the date of the 
                        enactment of this Act, for the same condition 
                        covered by the prior claim under clause; and
                            (iv) whose such claim is approved pursuant 
                        to this subsection.
            (4) Processing of claims.--The Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall 
        improve training and guidance for employees who may process a 
        claim under this subsection.
            (5) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach to 
        inform individuals who performed covered service (and survivors 
        of such individuals) that they may submit supplemental claims 
        for service-connected disability or death incurred or 
        aggravated in the course of covered service. Such outreach 
        shall include the following:
                    (A) The Secretary shall publish on the internet 
                website of the Department a notice that such 
                individuals may elect to file a supplemental claim.
                    (B) The Secretary shall notify, in writing or by 
                electronic means, veterans service organizations of the 
                ability of such individuals to file a supplemental 
                claim.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``covered service'' means service--
                    (A) as a member of the Armed Forces;
                    (B) in a female cultural support team;
                    (C) with the personnel development skill identifier 
                of R2J or 5DK; and
                    (D) during the period beginning on January 1, 2010, 
                and ending on August 31, 2021.
            (2) The terms ``active military, naval, air, or space 
        service'' and ``service-connected'' have the meanings given 
        such terms in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
            (3) The term ``Secretary concerned'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
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