Bill > S1581

This bill, the Survivors of Military Sexual Assault and Domestic Abuse Act of 2013, expands the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) ability to provide counseling and care for sexual trauma to include active-duty members of the Armed Forces, not just veterans, and removes the requirement for these members to get a referral before receiving such services. It also mandates that the VA develop and implement a system to screen veterans seeking healthcare to identify victims of domestic abuse, which is defined as a pattern of behavior involving physical or emotional abuse, economic control, or interference with personal liberty, or a violation of law involving force or violence, committed by a current or former spouse, domestic partner, or other specified individuals. Furthermore, the bill requires the VA Secretary to report to Congress on the availability of treatment for male veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (defined as psychological trauma resulting from sexual assault, battery, or harassment while on active duty) compared to female veterans, and to include information on domestic abuse among veterans. Finally, the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee is directed to report annually for six years on the transition of treatment for individuals who have experienced military sexual trauma or domestic abuse from the Department of Defense (DOD) to the VA.