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To amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs program of sexual trauma counseling for veterans and to improve certain Department of Veterans Affairs programs for women veterans.
1/19/2023, 11:46 PM
Congressional Summary of HR 2285
Amends the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 and Federal veterans' benefits provisions to: (1) extend through December 31, 1998, the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide sexual trauma counseling at Department facilities as well as through non-Department providers; (2) remove a requirement that veterans seek such counseling within a specified period after discharge; (3) remove the current one-year limit on the length of such counseling; (4) make the provision of such counseling equal in priority to the provision of Department outpatient services; (5) authorize the Department to provide such counseling to all veterans (currently, only women); and (6) require (current law authorizes) the provision of a 24-hour toll-free telephone number for the provision of sexual trauma crisis counseling.
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make certain reports with respect to: (1) the operation of the telephone hotline; and (2) the difficulties veterans encounter in obtaining from the Department determinations that disabilities relating to sexual trauma are service-connected.
Modifies responsibilities of Department coordinators of women's services. Requires the Secretary to ensure that such coordinators are provided sufficient resources to carry out such responsibilities.




