Bill Summary
This legislation aims to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who served in female cultural support teams receive appropriate recognition and benefits for their service. Key provisions include:
1. **Military Service Records and Retirement Pay**: The Secretary of Defense is required to include the service of these individuals in their military records and consider it when calculating their retirement pay within one year of the law's enactment.
2. **Veterans Benefits Claims**: The legislation stipulates that claims for service-connected disabilities or deaths related to this service will be treated similarly to combat engagement. It mandates improved training for claims processors and outreach efforts to inform eligible veterans about their rights to file claims.
3. **Study and Reporting**: A study will be conducted to identify individuals who have similar service records but may not have received recognition, with a report to be submitted to Congress within a year.
4. **Housing Loan Fee Modification**: The bill also updates the loan fee table for housing loans, extending a deadline relevant to veterans' benefits.
Overall, this legislation seeks to acknowledge the contributions of service members in female cultural support teams and improve their access to benefits and recognition.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the proposed legislation could affect individuals:
1. **Recognition of Service**: Members of the Armed Forces who served in female cultural support teams will have their service officially recognized in military records. This recognition could provide these individuals with a sense of validation and honor for their contributions, which may have previously been overlooked. The inclusion of their service in official records can enhance their military legacy and foster a greater appreciation for the role they played in supporting military operations.
2. **Enhanced Benefits Eligibility**: The legislation stipulates that service performed in female cultural support teams will be treated similarly to engagement in combat when considering claims for service-connected disabilities. This change could increase the likelihood that veterans from these teams receive benefits for disabilities related to their service. Veterans suffering from conditions like PTSD or traumatic brain injuries could have a stronger basis for their claims, leading to improved financial and medical support.
3. **Outreach and Awareness**: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to conduct outreach to inform individuals who served in female cultural support teams about their eligibility to file supplemental claims for service-connected disabilities or deaths. This outreach may lead to increased awareness among affected veterans and their families, allowing them to access benefits that they might not have previously known they were entitled to. This could significantly impact their quality of life by providing necessary support for healthcare and financial needs.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6036 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6036
To ensure that certain members of the Armed Forces who served in female
cultural support teams receive proper credit for such service.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 12, 2025
Mr. Issa (for himself, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Mr. Crow, and Ms. Houlahan)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To ensure that certain members of the Armed Forces who served in female
cultural support teams receive proper credit for such service.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CREDIT FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO SERVED IN
FEMALE CULTURAL SUPPORT TEAMS.
(a) Military Service: Records; Calculation of Retired Pay.--Not
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary concerned shall ensure that the performance of covered
service is included in--
(1) the military service record of each individual who
performed covered service; and
(2) the computation of retired pay for each individual who
performed covered service.
(b) Claims for Veterans Benefits Arising From Covered Service.--
(1) Determination of service connection.--Upon the filing
of a claim by an individual for service-connected disability or
death incurred or aggravated in the course of covered service,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall determine whether such
disability or death was service-connected.
(2) Treatment of covered service.--In the consideration of
a claim under this subsection, the Secretary shall treat
covered service as engagement in combat with the enemy in the
course of active military, naval, air, or space service.
(3) Effective date of award.--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.
(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.--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. Such outreach
shall include the following:
(A) The Secretary shall publish on the internet
website of the Department a notice that such
individuals may elect to file a supplemental claim.
(B) The Secretary shall notify, in writing or by
electronic means, veterans service organizations of the
ability of such individuals to file a supplemental
claim.
(c) Study and Report on Certain Members of the Armed Forces.--
(1) Study.--The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall conduct a study to
identify the size and number of groups of individuals who--
(A) performed service as a member of the Armed
Forces that the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of
Veterans Affairs determine is substantially similar to
covered service; and
(B) have a military service record that does not
include such service as a member of the Armed Forces.
(2) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report
that includes the findings of the study under paragraph (1).
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) 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; and
(D) during the period beginning on January 1, 2010,
and ending on August 31, 2021.
(2) The terms ``active military, naval, air, or space
service'' and ``service-connected'' have the meanings given
such terms in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(3) The term ``Secretary concerned'' has the meaning given
such term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
SEC. 2. REPORT ON CERTAIN CLAIMS FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than one year 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 covered claims. Such report shall
include the numbers of covered claims, disaggregated by gender of the
claimant and whether the military service record of the claimant
includes a combat identifier, that, respectively--
(1) were submitted;
(2) were granted;
(3) were denied;
(4) were unresolved; or
(5) were appealed.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``covered claim'' means a claim--
(A) for service-connected disability;
(B) on the basis of post-traumatic stress disorder
or traumatic brain injury; and
(C) submitted to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
on or after January 1, 1990.
(2) The term ``service-connected'' has the meaning given
such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES.
The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by striking ``November 15, 2031'' each place it
appears and inserting ``December 3, 2031''.
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