[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 667. Ms. ERNST (for herself, Ms. Rosen, and Ms. Duckworth) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 
2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military 
activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and 
for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe 
military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:

     SEC. 10__. 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 
     to 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, each Secretary concerned shall--
       (1) ensure that the performance of covered service is 
     included in--
       (A) the military service record of each individual who 
     performed covered service; and
       (B) the computation of retired pay for each individual who 
     performed covered service; and
       (2) transmit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a list of 
     each veteran who performed covered service whose military 
     service record was modified pursuant to paragraph (1).
       (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 treat such claims as claims based on 
     participation in special operations incidents (as defined in 
     section A of chapter 9 of subpart IV of part VIII of the M21-
     1 Manual of the Department, or successor).
       (2) Treatment of covered service.--In the consideration of 
     a claim under this subsection, the Secretary shall treat 
     covered service as special operations (as defined in section 
     A of chapter 9 of subpart IV of part VIII of the M21-1 Manual 
     of the Department, or successor).
       (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.--
       (A) In general.--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.
       (B) Elements.--Outreach conducted pursuant to subparagraph 
     (A) shall include the following:
       (i) Contact individuals described in subparagraph (A), 
     especially individuals who are veterans included in the list 
     transmitted pursuant to subsection (c)(2) and survivors of 
     such veterans, directly to inform them of the treatment of 
     covered service described in subsection (d)(2) and that they 
     may submit supplemental claims as described in such 
     subparagraph.
       (ii) Publishing on the internet website of the Department a 
     notice that such individuals may elect to file a supplemental 
     claim.
       (iii) Notifying, 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) Covered service.--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, or any other validation methods, such as valid sworn 
     statements, officer and enlisted performance evaluations, 
     training certificates, or records of an award from completion 
     of tour with a cultural support team; and
       (D) during the period beginning on January 1, 2010, and 
     ending on August 31, 2021.
       (2) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
     has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 10, 
     United States Code.
       (3) Service-connected.--The term ``service-connected'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, 
     United States Code.
       (4) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
                                 ______