Bill Summary
The "Supporting Veteran Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence Act of 2019" is a bill that aims to improve the provision of services and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans who have experienced domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or sexual assault. The bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to assist these veterans in accessing benefits and services, including coordinating with community-based organizations such as domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers. It also calls for the establishment of a national task force to develop a comprehensive national program to address domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary to conduct a national baseline study to examine the scope of the problem of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault among veterans and spouses of veterans. Finally, the bill amends an existing law to include an assessment of the effects of intimate partner violence on women veterans.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could potentially provide improved access to medical treatment, housing assistance, and other benefits for veterans who have experienced domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or sexual assault. This could greatly benefit those individuals by providing them with necessary support and resources to aid in their recovery and well-being.
2. The program required by this legislation could also have a positive impact on underserved or minority communities, by ensuring that services for domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault are available and accessible to all veterans, regardless of their background or location.
3. The national task force and baseline study required by this legislation could bring attention and awareness to the issue of domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans, potentially leading to increased support and resources for those affected by these issues. This could also help to better understand the unique challenges and needs of this population and inform future policies and programs.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2915 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2915
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the provision
of services and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for
veterans who experience domestic violence, intimate partner violence,
or sexual assault, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 20, 2019
Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Ms. McSally) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the provision
of services and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for
veterans who experience domestic violence, intimate partner violence,
or sexual assault, and for other purposes.
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 ``Supporting Veteran Survivors of
Domestic and Sexual Violence Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to better integrate the medical,
housing, mental health, and other benefits provided by the Department
of Veterans Affairs with existing community-based domestic violence,
intimate partner violence, and sexual assault services--
(1) to provide a more efficient and coordinated network of
support for veterans experiencing domestic violence, intimate
partner violence, or sexual assault; and
(2) to better understand the effect of domestic violence,
intimate partner violence, and sexual assault on veterans.
SEC. 3. PROGRAM TO ASSIST VETERANS WHO EXPERIENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.
(a) Program Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
carry out a program to assist veterans that have experienced or are
experiencing domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or sexual
assault in accessing benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs,
including coordinating access to medical treatment centers, housing
assistance, and other benefits from the Department.
(b) Partnership.--The Secretary shall carry out the program under
subsection (a) in partnership with--
(1) domestic violence shelters and programs;
(2) rape crisis centers;
(3) State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions;
and
(4) such other health care or other service providers that
serve domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or sexual
assault victims as determined by the Secretary, particularly
those providing emergency services or housing assistance.
(c) Authorized Activities.--In carrying out the program under
subsection (a), the Secretary may conduct the following activities:
(1) Training for community-based domestic violence,
intimate partner violence, or sexual assault service providers
on--
(A) identifying veterans who have been victims of
domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or sexual
assault;
(B) coordinating with local service providers of
the Department; and
(C) connecting veterans with appropriate housing,
mental health, medical, and other financial assistance
or benefits from the Department.
(2) Assistance to service providers to ensure access of
veterans to domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and
sexual assault emergency services, particularly in underserved
areas, including services for members of Indian tribes.
(3) Such other outreach and assistance as the Secretary
determines necessary for the provision of assistance under
subsection (a).
(d) Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence, and Sexual
Assault Outreach Coordinators.--
(1) In general.--In order to effectively assist veterans
who have experienced domestic violence, intimate partner
violence, or sexual assault, the Secretary may establish local
coordinators to provide outreach under the program required by
subsection (a).
(2) Local coordinator knowledge.--The Secretary shall
ensure that each coordinator established under paragraph (1) is
knowledgeable about--
(A) the dynamics of domestic violence, intimate
partner violence, and sexual assault, including safety
concerns, legal protections, and the need for the
provision of confidential services;
(B) the eligibility of veterans for services and
benefits from the Department that are relevant to
recovery from domestic violence, intimate partner
violence, and sexual assault, particularly emergency
housing assistance, mental health care, other health
care, and disability benefits; and
(C) local community resources addressing domestic
violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual
assault.
(3) Local coordinator assistance.--Each coordinator
established under paragraph (1) shall assist domestic violence
shelters and rape crisis centers in providing services to
veterans.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON VETERANS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation
with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, shall establish a national task force (in this section
referred to as the ``Task Force'') to develop a comprehensive national
program, including by integrating facilities, services, and benefits of
the Department of Veterans Affairs into existing networks of community-
based domestic violence and sexual assault services, to address
domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans.
(b) Consultation With Stakeholders.--In carrying out this section,
the Task Force shall consult with--
(1) representatives from not fewer than three national
organizations or State coalitions with demonstrated expertise
in domestic violence prevention, response, or advocacy; and
(2) representatives from not fewer than three national
organizations or State coalitions, particularly those
representing underserved or ethnic minority communities, with
demonstrated expertise in sexual assault prevention, response,
or advocacy.
(c) Duties.--The duties of the Task Force shall include the
following:
(1) To review existing services and policies of the
Department and develop a comprehensive national program to
address domestic violence and sexual assault prevention,
response, and treatment.
(2) To review the feasibility and advisability of
establishing an expedited process to secure emergency,
temporary benefits, including housing or other benefits, for
veterans who are experiencing domestic violence or sexual
assault.
(3) To review and make recommendations regarding the
feasibility and advisability of establishing dedicated,
temporary housing assistance for veterans experiencing domestic
violence or sexual assault.
(4) To identify any requirements regarding domestic
violence assistance or sexual assault response and services
that are not being met by the Department and make
recommendations on how the Department can meet such
requirements.
(5) To review and make recommendations regarding the
feasibility and advisability of providing direct services or
contracting for community-based services for veterans in
response to a sexual assault, including through the use of
sexual assault nurse examiners, particularly in underserved or
remote areas, including services for members of Indian tribes.
(6) To review the availability of counseling services
provided by the Department and through peer network support,
and to provide recommendations for the enhancement of such
services, to address--
(A) the perpetration of domestic violence and
sexual assault; and
(B) the recovery of veterans from domestic violence
and sexual assault.
(7) To review and make recommendations to expand services
available for veterans at risk of perpetrating domestic
violence, intimate partner violence, or sexual assault.
(d) Annual Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once each year
thereafter, the Task Force shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs and Congress a report on the activities of the Task Force,
including such recommendations for legislative or administrative action
as the Task Force may have.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL BASELINE STUDY ON PROBLEM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AMONG
VETERANS AND SPOUSES OF VETERANS.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the
Attorney General, shall conduct a national baseline study to examine
the scope of the problem of domestic violence, intimate partner
violence, and sexual assault among veterans and spouses of veterans.
SEC. 6. ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE ON WOMEN
VETERANS BY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WOMEN VETERANS.
Section 542(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);
and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new
subparagraph (C):
``(C) an assessment of the effects of intimate partner
violence on women veterans; and''.
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