[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 25, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3542-S3543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1040. Ms. ROSEN 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__. STUDIES AND REPORTS ON TREATMENT OF SERVICE OF 
                   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--
       (1) individuals who performed covered service performed 
     exceptional service to the United States; and
       (2) the Secretary of Defense should ensure that the 
     performance of covered service is included in the military 
     service record of each individual who performed covered 
     service so that those with service-connected injuries can 
     receive proper care and benefits for their service.
       (c) Secretary of Defense Study and Report.--

[[Page S3543]]

       (1) In general.--Not later than March 31, 2024, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall--
       (A) carry out a study on the treatment of covered service 
     for purposes of retired pay under laws administered by the 
     Secretary; and
       (B) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
     report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the 
     study carried out under paragraph (1).
       (2) List.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)(B) 
     shall include a list of each individual who performed covered 
     service whose military service record should be modified on 
     account of covered service.
       (d) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Study and Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than March 31, 2024, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
       (A) carry out a study on the treatment of covered service 
     for purposes of compensation under laws administered by the 
     Secretary; and
       (B) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
     report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the 
     study carried out under paragraph (1).
       (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)(B) 
     shall include the following:
       (A) A list of each veteran who performed covered service 
     whose claim for disability compensation under a law 
     administered by the Secretary was denied due to the inability 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine the injury 
     was service-connected.
       (B) An estimate of the cost that would be incurred by the 
     Department to provide veterans described in subparagraph (A) 
     with the health care and benefits they are entitled to under 
     the laws administered by the Secretary on account of their 
     covered service.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
       (2) 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.
                                 ______