Bill

Bill > S2915


US S2915

US S2915
Supporting Veteran Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence Act of 2019


summary

Introduced
11/20/2019
In Committee
11/20/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

116th Congress

Bill Summary

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. This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take actions to improve assistance to veterans who experience domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or sexual assault. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to implement a program to assist veterans who have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or sexual assault in accessing VA benefits. The VA shall carry out the program in partnership with domestic violence shelters and programs, rape crisis centers, state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, and other appropriate service providers. The bill authorizes the VA to establish local coordinators to provide outreach under the program to effectively assist veterans who have experienced domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or sexual assault. The VA must consult with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a national task force to develop a comprehensive national program to address domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans by integrating VA facilities, services, and benefits into existing networks of community-based domestic violence and sexual assault services. The VA must consult with DOJ 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 requires the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to include in its biennial report an assessment of the effects of intimate partner violence on women veterans.

AI Summary

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve the provision of services and benefits to veterans who experience domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or sexual assault. Specifically, it mandates the VA to implement a program to assist these veterans in accessing VA benefits, in partnership with domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, and other service providers. The bill also establishes a national task force to develop a comprehensive national program to address domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans, and requires a national baseline study on the scope of the problem. Additionally, it requires the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to include an assessment of the effects of intimate partner violence on women veterans in its biennial report.

Committee Categories

Military Affairs and Security

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (on 11/20/2019)

bill text


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