Bill Summary
This bill seeks to amend the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 to provide compensation to personnel of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of State who incur disabilities resulting from certain injuries to the brain. It also requires a report to be submitted to the congressional intelligence committees and the Committee on Foreign Relations and Committee on Foreign Affairs, assessing the use of this authority and potential need for additional authorities. This bill also makes clarifying amendments to existing legislation related to compensation for disabilities resulting from injuries to the brain.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could affect people working for the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of State who have suffered brain injuries while on the job. They may be entitled to compensation for their disability under this bill.
2. The legislation could also affect the families of individuals who work for the CIA or State Department, as they may be considered "covered dependents" and could also receive compensation for disabilities resulting from injuries to the brain.
3. The report required by this legislation may also impact the decision-making process for future legislation or administrative action related to providing compensation for disabilities resulting from other types of injuries, such as those to the back or heart.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4973 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4973 To amend the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 to authorize the provision of compensation to personnel of the Central Intelligence Agency who incur disabilities resulting from certain injuries to the brain, to authorize the provision of compensation to personnel of the Department of State who incur similar disabilities, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 8, 2020 Ms. Collins (for herself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Warner, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. King, Mr. Sasse, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Burr, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Cotton) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 to authorize the provision of compensation to personnel of the Central Intelligence Agency who incur disabilities resulting from certain injuries to the brain, to authorize the provision of compensation to personnel of the Department of State who incur similar disabilities, 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. AUTHORITY TO COMPENSATE PERSONNEL OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY FOR DISABILITIES RESULTING FROM CERTAIN INJURIES TO THE BRAIN. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Congressional intelligence committees.--The term ``congressional intelligence committees'' has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003). (2) Covered dependent, covered employee, covered individual, and qualifying injury.--The terms ``covered dependent'', ``covered employee'', ``covered individual'', and ``qualifying injury'' have the meanings given such terms in section 19A(a) of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. 3519b(a)). (b) Compensation Authorized.--Section 19A of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. 3519b) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(d) Authority To Compensate for Disabilities Resulting From Qualifying Injuries to the Brain.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director may provide compensation to a covered dependent, a covered employee, and a covered individual who has a partial or total disability-- ``(1) resulting from a qualifying injury to the brain; and ``(2) for which the covered dependent, covered employee, or covered individual is not entitled to receive monthly compensation under section 8105 or 8106 of title 5, United States Code.''. (c) Applicability.--Subsection (d) of such section, as added by subsection (b) of this section, shall apply with respect to a disability resulting from a qualifying injury that occurs before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (d) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees a report on the use of the authority provided by section 19A(d) of such Act, as added by subsection (b) of this section. (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) A budget for the use of the authority described in paragraph (1). (B) Information relating to the use of the authority described in paragraph (1). (C) An assessment of whether any other legislative or administrative action is required to ensure that covered dependents, covered employees, and covered individuals can receive compensation for any disability resulting from a qualifying injury, such as a qualifying injury to the back or heart. (3) Classified annex.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include a classified annex that includes the budget and information included under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2). (e) Clarifying Amendment.--Section 19A(b) of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. 3519b(b)) is amended, in the subsection heading, by inserting ``Total Disability Resulting From'' before ``Certain Injuries''. SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO COMPENSATE PERSONNEL OF DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR DISABILITIES RESULTING FROM CERTAIN INJURIES TO THE BRAIN. Section 901 of title IX of division J of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (22 U.S.C. 2680b) is amended-- (1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (h) as subsections (d) through (i), respectively; (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection: ``(c) Other Injuries.-- ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State or other agency head with an employee abroad under Chief of Mission authority may provide compensation to a covered dependent, a covered employee, and a covered individual who has a partial or total disability-- ``(A) resulting from a qualifying injury to the brain; and ``(B) for which the covered dependent, covered employee, or covered individual is not entitled to receive monthly compensation under section 8105 or 8106 of title 5, United States Code. ``(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of State or other agency head with an employee abroad under Chief of Mission authority shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House a report on the use of the authority provided by this subsection. The report shall include an assessment of whether additional authorities are required to ensure that covered dependents, covered employees, and covered individuals can receive compensation for any disability resulting from a qualifying injury, such as a qualifying injury to the back or neck.''; (3) in subsection (f), as redesignated by paragraph (1)-- (A) by striking ``subsection (f)'' each place it appears and inserting ``subsection (g)''; (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``of a employee'' and inserting ``of an employee or former employee''; and (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``means an employee'' and inserting ``means an employee or former employee''; (4) in subsection (g), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by striking ``subsection (a) or (b)'' both places it appears and inserting ``subsection (a), (b), or (c)''; and (5) in subsection (i), as redesignated by paragraph (1)-- (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``In general.-- This section'' and inserting ``Adjustment of compensation provision.--Subsections (a) and (b)''; (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph: ``(2) Other compensation provision.--Subsection (c) shall apply with respect to a disability resulting from a qualifying injury that occurs before, on, or after the date of the enactment of such subsection.''. <all>