[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 28, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H4861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COUNSELING AND TREATMENT FOR SEXUAL TRAUMA OCCURRING DURING INACTIVE 
                             DUTY TRAINING

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2527) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide veterans with counseling and treatment for sexual trauma that 
occurred during inactive duty training.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2527

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

     SECTION 1. COUNSELING AND TREATMENT FOR SEXUAL TRAUMA 
                   OCCURRING DURING INACTIVE DUTY FOR TRAINING.

       Section 1720D of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``active duty or 
     active duty for training'' and inserting ``active duty, 
     active duty for training, or inactive duty training''; and
       (2) in subsection (f)--
       (A) by striking ``this section, the'' and inserting the 
     following: ``this section:
       ``(1) The''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) The term `veteran', with respect to inactive duty 
     training described in subsection (a)(1), also includes an 
     individual who--
       ``(A) is not otherwise eligible for the benefits of this 
     chapter; and
       ``(B) while serving in the reserve components of the Armed 
     Forces, performed such inactive duty training but did not 
     serve on active duty.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on H.R. 2527.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 2527 would extend VA's program of counseling, care, and services 
for veterans who experience sexual trauma during inactive duty 
training.
  Those servicemembers and veterans who experience sexual violence 
during military service, regardless of where or when such violence is 
inflicted, should have access to the counseling, care, and treatment 
they need to recover.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2527, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 2527, the National Guard 
Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank Mr. Benishek, the chairman of the 
Health Subcommittee; Ms. Brownley, the ranking member of the Health 
Subcommittee; and especially Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Michaud 
for working with me on this very important issue.
  The bill before you is bipartisan legislation which addresses an 
unacceptable gap in the current law that effectively leaves some 
victims of military sexual assault without the support and treatment 
they need.
  Members of the National Guard and other reserve components of our 
armed services have fought bravely for our country, many completing 
multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since the attacks on 
September 11, more than 50,000 guardsmen and guardswomen have been 
called to service, both at home and abroad.
  We recognize the value of the National Guard and other reserve 
components, and thank them for their service. Unfortunately, some, like 
members of the other Armed Forces, are victimized by sexual assault 
while on Active Duty. If that happens, they are provided all the VA 
resources and services they need to recover and heal, both physically 
and emotionally.
  Such benefits, however, are not offered to members of the National 
Guard and other reserve components who experience sexual assault while 
on inactive training missions. Members of the Guard are required to 
participate in training missions one weekend a month and 2 weeks a 
year, but benefits and services, such as counseling and Medicare, do 
not extend to victims sexually assaulted during these mandatory 
training missions. This omission is simply unacceptable and leaves so 
many who have served our country without any assistance or support 
during a devastating time.
  The National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act would fix this 
problem and clarify that all victims of sexual trauma in the National 
Guard or other reserve components have access to the care they need, 
whether they are on Active Duty or on a required training mission.
  We must make it a priority to change the culture of the military and 
put an end to acts of sexual trauma within our armed services. Until we 
do, however, we must be sure that we provide all victims the treatment 
they need and deserve.
  I am proud that many veterans service organizations support this 
important legislation to ensure that all Guard members who are ``always 
ready, always there'' to protect our country receive the same support 
in return from their government.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1745

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, so 
I will reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I would just conclude my remarks and urge all 
my colleagues to support this legislation and, again, thank the 
chairman for working with me to bring it to the floor. We want to send 
it to the Senate and urge them to pass it quickly and on to the 
President for his signature.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to 
support H.R. 2527, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2527.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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