Mst Claims Coordination Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (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.

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Mr. TAKANO. 7335.

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.

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Mr. TAKANO. 7335, and the chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.

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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.

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