[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 84 (Monday, May 19, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2130-H2132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IMPROVING VA TRAINING FOR MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA CLAIMS ACT
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2201) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve claims,
made under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
regarding military sexual trauma, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2201
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[[Page H2131]]
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improving VA Training for
Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF CLAIMS BASED ON MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA
UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Training for Employees Who Process Such Claims.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 1166 of title
38, United States Code, is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``members of teams
established under subsection (a) are trained'' and inserting
``each employee of the Department who processes such a claim,
communicates with a claimant regarding evidence supporting
such a claim, or decides such a claim, receives annual
sensitivity training and training''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(4) The Secretary shall ensure that training received by
an employee under this subsection is appropriate for how much
experience the employee has with such claims.
``(5) The Secretary shall update training under this
subsection not less than once annually.''.
(2) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding--
(A) training provided under such subsection before such
date; and
(B) plans of the Secretary to carry out the amendments made
by paragraph (1).
(b) Expansion of Duty to Assist in Obtaining Records for a
Compensation Claim.--Section 5103A(c) of title 38, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
(2) by inserting, after paragraph (1), the following new
paragraph (2):
``(2) In the case of a claim under section 1166 of this
title, the assistance provided by the Secretary under this
section shall include obtaining--
``(A) the service personnel record of the claimant; and
``(B) the service medical record of the claimant.''.
(c) Sensitivity Training for Certain Contracted Health Care
Professionals: Report; Improvements.--Not later than 90 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report
on--
(1) sensitivity training required for health care
professionals and individuals who communicate with veterans
to schedule examinations, contracted under section 504 of the
Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-
275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note), to perform examinations of
veterans who make claims under section 1166 of title 38,
United States Code; and
(2) the plan of the Secretary to--
(A) improve such sensitivity training; and
(B) ensure that a veteran who makes such a claim is not
retraumatized during such an examination by such a contracted
health care professional.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 2201, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 2201, as amended. This
bill was introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Young
Kim.
This bill would require that VA claims processors and contracted
disability compensation examiners undergo annual sensitivity training
to prevent retraumatizing survivors of military sexual trauma who are
pursuing claims for VA benefits.
The bill would also ensure that VA employees receive better training
and obtain all relevant military service records so veterans can
receive more accurate decisions on their military sexual trauma claims.
{time} 1715
Because military sexual trauma often goes unreported, a veteran's
military service records rarely prove that they experienced an MST.
This bill would ensure that VA claims processors review and understand
the types of evidence that can prove an MST claim.
Further, veterans relive what they suffered through during service
when they file a claim based on military sexual trauma. We must ensure
that every interaction VA has with them is trauma-informed.
Representative Kim's bill would decrease the risk of retraumatizing
veterans who have endured MST. Her bill would also streamline the MST
claims process for them so that these veterans can more easily access
their disability benefits.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2201, as amended,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2201, the Improving VA
Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act, as amended.
I think we can all agree that no one should ever, ever be subject to
sexual violence while serving in the military. It is truly a tragedy
that it happens at all, but sadly, it does.
Unfortunately, it occurs to many men and women in our military ranks
at a rate likely greater than that of the general public. That means
that among some of the best people our country has, there are far too
many who have been violated in the most personal of ways.
Far too often, sexual assault in the military is perpetrated by those
in positions of power, and far too often, these assaults are swept
under the rug by the chain of command with the poor excuse that this is
being done to avoid disrupting unit cohesion. This means that the
victims of sexual assault are left to serve with and under their
assailants, watching them go unpunished for their crimes. This is a
double indignity that no one should ever have to suffer.
Sexual trauma is unlike any other trauma. It has the ability to
separate someone from their own body. It can make someone feel like
they are a stranger in that body. It can make them feel unsafe in their
own skin.
The effects of this trauma are heartbreaking and can be lasting.
Asking victims of sexual violence to speak about it or provide physical
evidence relating to it can be retraumatizing.
Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs requires that personnel
managing claims of this type receive training on the subject every 5
years. That seems like a long time between training for such a
sensitive subject and a unique type of concern, especially as the study
and treatment of these issues evolves rapidly and new best practices
are developed and implemented.
When it comes to the treatment of military sexual trauma compensation
claims, I think it is worth revisiting training annually to ensure that
we are giving these veterans proper care and treatment.
H.R. 2201 is an effort to add a little more care and compassion to
the process of disability claims of this nature. We routinely advocate
for veterans and their well-being in our committee, and this bill does
just that.
By mandating that providers have more frequent and updated training,
we can ensure better outcomes for the veteran. It is something we must
keep pushing for. Every day, we must work to build a better veterans'
experience, and providing training more frequently can help us
accomplish that goal.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2201 and to continue to press
for better care for veterans.
Mr. Speaker, for the victims of sexual assault out there who may be
listening right now, they should know that they are seen and heard. I
will continue to push for accountability for those who perpetrated the
assaults, and I will push even harder to ensure these veterans get the
compassionate care that they have earned and deserve.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), the chief sponsor of this bill.
Mrs. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Bost for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 2201, the
Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act.
Mr. Speaker, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 50 men experience military sexual
trauma, or MST, as a servicemember. As many of my colleagues have
already stated, a claim based on MST can be difficult to prove because
MST often
[[Page H2132]]
goes unreported during military service.
Furthermore, evidence indicating that MST occurred is difficult to
evaluate, and VA claims processors and examiners do not have sufficient
training to recognize indirect evidence of MST. They are also not
required to undergo annual sensitivity training to reduce the risk of
retraumatizing survivors of MST.
Further, the law requires VA to help veterans filing disability
benefits claims based on MST to gather evidence for their claims.
However, VA does not always obtain a veteran's complete service
personnel and medical records, which can provide crucial evidence to
prove an MST claim.
This bipartisan bill works to improve the MST claim process by
requiring VA employees working on these cases to complete annual
training to better identify evidence and to ensure that veterans are
not retraumatized during the examination process.
Additionally, the VA would be required to automatically obtain all
service personnel and medical records for veterans filing an MST claim
to ensure their cases are processed in an accurate and timely manner.
Streamlining the MST claim process and improving VA training will
ensure veterans who endured MST can more easily access their earned
benefits and ensure they are treated with compassion during the claims
process.
I thank Representatives Nikki Budzinski, Don Bacon, and Chrissy
Houlahan for their collaboration on this commonsense, bipartisan
measure that provides survivors of MST with the support and protection
they deserve.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Improving VA
Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Illinois (Ms. Budzinski), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on
Technology Modernization and my good friend.
Ms. BUDZINSKI. Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, I was speaking in
committee to celebrate the bipartisanship of this important legislation
and the urgent need to pass it out of the House. Today, we are one step
closer to making that a reality.
First, I thank Representative Young Kim for her leadership and
collaboration on this bill, and I thank our veterans for their service
and bravery.
This bill is needed for so many of those veterans who have endured
sexual trauma while in service. When these veterans go to file military
sexual trauma claims, navigating the VA system should never add to the
pain they have already endured. That is why I introduced this
bipartisan legislation to ensure the VA's claims process supports
rather than retraumatizes survivors of MST.
Right now, contracted disability compensation examiners are only
required to complete outdated online sensitivity training before
handling these deeply sensitive claims. This insufficient preparation
can make the claims process retraumatizing for those who have already
suffered.
MST affects veterans of all genders. While it is more common among
women, many male veterans are also impacted. We must ensure that all of
our survivors are treated with dignity and care.
The Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act would
modernize and strengthen the training required for VA staff and
contractors who work on MST claims and help cut through the red tape
that too often delays justice and support.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in
passing H.R. 2201, the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma
Claims Act of 2025, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 2201, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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