H.R. 1954 · 115th Congress
Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2017
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 115th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
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PingreeSponsor16 cosponsors · 15 D, 1 R
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Brownley
RD
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DeLauro
EE
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Esty
SP
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Peters
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Rush
GS
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Sablan
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Tsongas
DT
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Titus
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Takano
JM
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McGovern
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Moore
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Wilson
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Norton
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Gallego
BP
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Poliquin
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Dingell9 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2017
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Apr 5, 2017
Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2017
This bill expands Department of Defense (DOD) sexual trauma counseling and treatment to include: (1) cyber harassment of a sexual nature, and (2) members of the Armed Forces on active duty for training or inactive duty training.
The bill sets forth the standard of proof, which may be rebutted, in the case of a veteran who claims that a covered mental health condition was incurred in or aggravated by military sexual trauma during active service. The reasons for granting or denying service-connection in each case shall be recorded in full.
DOD shall ensure that: (1) in a compensation claim for post-traumatic stress disorder based on sexual assault, battery, cyber harassment, or harassment experienced during active military service, non-DOD evidence may corroborate the veteran's account of such assault, battery, or harassment; and (2) behavior changes may be considered as corroborating evidence.
DOD shall: (1) report annually through 2027 on submitted claims to identify and track the consistency of decisions across regional offices, (2) inform members of the Armed Forces of their eligibility for services at Vet Centers, and (3) ensure that Sexual Assault Response Coordinators advise members of the Armed Forces who report instances of military sexual trauma about their eligibility for Vet Center services.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2017
Latest action (Apr 24, 2017): Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security · Origin: House · Introduced: Apr 5, 2017
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.