[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 18, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5105-H5107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MST CLAIMS COORDINATION ACT
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill
[[Page H5106]]
(H.R. 7335) to improve coordination between the Veterans Health
Administration and the Veterans Benefits Administration with respect to
claims for compensation arising from military sexual trauma, and for
other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7335
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``MST Claims Coordination
Act''.
SEC. 2. VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION AND VETERANS BENEFITS
ADMINISTRATION COORDINATION FOR CERTAIN CLAIMS
ARISING FROM MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.
(a) Coordinated Provision of Materials.--
(1) Required materials.--During or immediately after each
covered event, and together with each covered document, in a
claim for compensation arising from military sexual trauma
experienced by a covered individual, the Under Secretary for
Benefits of the Veterans Benefits Administration, in
coordination with the Under Secretary for Health of the
Veterans Health Administration, shall provide, to the covered
individual--
(A) outreach letters;
(B) information on the Veterans Crisis Line;
(C) information on how to make an appointment with a mental
health provider; and
(D) other information on available resources relating to
military sexual trauma (including information on military
sexual trauma coordinators of the Veterans Health
Administration, mental health providers trained in military
sexual trauma issues, and peer support specialists).
(2) Format of materials.--Materials described in paragraph
(1) may be provided electronically.
(b) Automatic Notification System.--In a claim for
compensation arising from military sexual trauma experienced
by a veteran, if the veteran is enrolled in the patient
enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under
section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, and consents to
the notification system under this subsection, the Under
Secretary for Benefits shall automatically notify the Under
Secretary for Health shortly before the veteran--
(1) participates in any covered event; or
(2) receives any covered document.
(c) Implementation Deadline.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall implement this Act not later than 18 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``compensation'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(2) The term ``covered document'' means a determination
(including a rating determination) that the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs provides to the claimant in connection with
a claim for compensation.
(3) The term ``covered event'' includes, with respect to a
claim for compensation--
(A) a medical examination under section 5103A of title 38,
United States Code;
(B) a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals under
section 7107 of such title; and
(C) any other event determined relevant by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs.
(4) The term ``covered individual'' means a former member
of the Armed Forces (as that term is defined in section 1720D
of title 38, United States Code) who elects to receive
materials under subsection (a).
(5) The term ``military sexual trauma'' has the meaning
given that term in section 1166 of title 38, United States
Code.
(6) The term ``Veterans Crisis Line'' means the toll-free
hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of
title 38, United States Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
to insert extraneous material on H.R. 7335.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of H.R. 7335, the MST Claims Coordination
Act, introduced by Chairwoman Luria. Information is power, but access
to information is empowering.
Given the traumatic nature of military sexual trauma, equipping
veterans with information about the MST claims process may help to ease
the apprehension that may be associated with pursuing MST claims.
The outreach materials mandated by this legislation will provide MST
survivors a variety of resources on how to pursue and file claims;
identify mental health resources for treatment; and contact information
for the Veterans Crisis Line, should the need arise.
By improving the notification mechanisms between the Veterans Health
Administration and the Veterans Benefit Administration, veteran
survivors of MST will benefit from claims coordination between the
administrations, which will hopefully lead to a more streamlined MST
claims process and accelerated compensation decisions, and will avoid
the complications that often lead to frustration among survivors.
I thank Chair Luria for offering this legislation, and I urge my
colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7335, the MST Claims
Coordination Act. This bill requires VBA to provide claimants with
outreach materials on VHA services for military sexual trauma survivors
during the benefits claim process.
Additionally, this legislation will allow the veterans to opt into a
requirement that the VBA notify VHA when the veteran receives a
disability exam or board hearing for a claim related to MST. This will
allow the VHA to be better informed about the events in the claims
process that may cause distress to the MST survivor in order to improve
their care.
Veteran claimants have reported that they are unaware of the services
VHA provides to assist veterans who experienced MST, regardless of
their service-connected disability status.
It is critical that VA improves coordination between VHA and VBA to
better support survivors of MST.
I appreciate Congresswoman Luria, the Chairwoman of the Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, for introducing this
bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Mrs. Luria), my good friend, author of H.R. 7335, and the
chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.
Mrs. LURIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the survivors of
military sexual trauma, or MST, who struggle to access the medical
care, mental health services, and the compensation that they deserve.
Sexual assault in the military continues to be a pervasive issue.
These assaults are often unreported and can culminate in post-traumatic
stress disorder, depression, and even suicide.
When a veteran has the courage to report the impact of that trauma to
the VA, it is essential that we treat these claims with the utmost
empathy, compassion, and concern.
For many veterans, submitting the claim means opening themselves up.
For those who have not filed a report while in the military, this is
the first opportunity for their experience to be acknowledged. And far
too often, MST survivors encounter bureaucratic processes when filing
their claims through the VA, which can be re-traumatizing, and further
delays access to critical healthcare and mental healthcare services.
{time} 1245
My bill is one in a series of bills drafted to improve the veteran's
experience during the MST claims process. It would require the VA to
provide guidance to help veterans understand what mental health
resources and other supports are in place and available to support them
as they go through the claims process.
By ensuring veterans who file an MST-related claim are given
information on the Veterans Crisis Line, how to make appointments with
mental healthcare providers, and connect them with VHA MST
coordinators, we empower veterans to access the network of trauma-
informed care that the VHA provides.
For veterans who already have access to the VHA system of care, my
bill would, with the veteran's consent, allow for relevant healthcare
providers
[[Page H5107]]
to be notified when a veteran in their care has filed an MST claim, has
an examination related to the MST claim, or been notified of a decision
or a determination. This notification can be especially helpful when a
claim has been denied or the decision is lower than the veteran feels
is warranted.
We must ensure that survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment
in the military are treated respectfully and receive proper care at all
stages of the process, including mental healthcare services.
It is especially critical in light of the August 2021 VA Office of
Inspector General report which showed that claims were still being
inappropriately denied. Thus, ``veteran survivors of military sexual
trauma remain at risk of not receiving the VA benefits to which they
are entitled and experiencing additional distress when claims are
improperly handled or denied.''
That is why I introduced the MST Claims Coordinator Act, to improve
communication and coordination in the claims process between the
Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health
Administration.
As a 20-year Navy veteran, I am proud to have worked with my
colleagues in a bipartisan fashion to introduce this legislation, and I
urge my colleagues to support its final passage.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I truly appreciate the diligent work of
Chairwoman Luria. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing her
legislation, H.R. 7335, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 7335.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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