Bill text replaced
This bill's text was replaced via an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Some metadata (subjects, policy area, committees) may reflect the original bill and not the current text.
Summary
The Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025 would modify Department of Veterans Affairs policies to better support veterans who experienced military sexual trauma (MST), defined as physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment during military service. If enacted, the bill would require the VA to consider multiple forms of evidence when evaluating claims for mental health conditions related to MST, including diagnoses from mental health professionals, medical evidence linking current symptoms to MST, and credible corroborating evidence. The VA would be prohibited from denying such claims without first informing veterans that nonmilitary evidence and behavioral evidence can count as corroboration, and giving veterans a chance to provide or identify such evidence.
The bill would also expand access to MST counseling and treatment to former members of reserve components regardless of their duty status, and would require the VA to conduct annual reviews to ensure claims related to MST are processed accurately. Additionally, the VA would be required to conduct outreach to inform potentially eligible individuals about available MST care and support services. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote in the Senate.
AI-generated summary
Lifecycle of the Bill
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 30, 2025
HearingSenateMeeting
Jul 30, 2025 · 20:00
Business meeting to consider S.275, to improve the provision of care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.506, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to coordinate, navigate, and manage care and benefits for veterans enrolled in both the Medicare program and the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.607, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an integrated project team to improve the process for scheduling appointments for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.610, to expand the VetSuccess on Campus program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.635, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize nurse registries for purposes of the Veterans Community Care Program, S.654, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, S.702, to require a study on the quality of care difference between mental health and addiction therapy care provided by health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs compared to non-Department providers, S.778, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.787, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other programs, S.800, to modify the Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.827, to extend and modify the transportation grant program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.831, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve telephone communication by the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.879, to expand medical, employment, and other benefits for individuals serving as family caregivers for certain veterans, S.972, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, S.1139, to amend the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to modify and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.1245, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for military sexual trauma, S.1318, to direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a program to identify American-Jewish servicemembers buried in United States military cemeteries overseas under markers that incorrectly represent their religion and heritage, S.1320, to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take certain steps regarding research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women's health, S.1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, S.1441, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to nonprofit entities to assist such entities in carrying out programs to provide service dogs to eligible veterans, S.1533, to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, S.1591, to amend title 38, United States Code, to reorganize the acquisition structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to establish the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation in the Department, S.2392, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2025, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and S.2393, to authorize a major medical facility project for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Summary
The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a business meeting on July 30, 2025 to consider 24 bills aimed at improving veterans' care and benefits. The bills addressed a wide range of issues affecting veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including improvements to the Veterans Community Care Program, coordination of care for seniors enrolled in both Medicare and VA, mental health and addiction therapy quality assessments, expansion of the VetSuccess on Campus program, and lactation spaces in VA medical centers. Additional bills focused on family caregiver benefits, military sexual trauma care, service dog programs, disability compensation increases, and facility improvements. As a business meeting rather than a hearing with external witnesses, the session was focused on committee consideration of the legislation rather than testimony from outside parties. The bills covered diverse veteran needs including mental health support, education and employment assistance, women's health research, religious heritage recognition for fallen servicemembers, and accessibility improvements. Business meetings of this type allow committees to review and potentially advance legislation, though consideration in committee does not guarantee a bill will be voted on or passed by the full Senate.
Video
Watch videoCommittee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 30, 2025
HearingSenateMeeting
Jul 30, 2025 · 20:00
Business meeting to consider S.275, to improve the provision of care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.506, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to coordinate, navigate, and manage care and benefits for veterans enrolled in both the Medicare program and the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.607, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an integrated project team to improve the process for scheduling appointments for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.610, to expand the VetSuccess on Campus program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.635, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize nurse registries for purposes of the Veterans Community Care Program, S.654, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, S.702, to require a study on the quality of care difference between mental health and addiction therapy care provided by health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs compared to non-Department providers, S.778, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.787, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other programs, S.800, to modify the Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.827, to extend and modify the transportation grant program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.831, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve telephone communication by the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.879, to expand medical, employment, and other benefits for individuals serving as family caregivers for certain veterans, S.972, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, S.1139, to amend the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to modify and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.1245, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for military sexual trauma, S.1318, to direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a program to identify American-Jewish servicemembers buried in United States military cemeteries overseas under markers that incorrectly represent their religion and heritage, S.1320, to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take certain steps regarding research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women's health, S.1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, S.1441, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to nonprofit entities to assist such entities in carrying out programs to provide service dogs to eligible veterans, S.1533, to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, S.1591, to amend title 38, United States Code, to reorganize the acquisition structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to establish the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation in the Department, S.2392, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2025, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and S.2393, to authorize a major medical facility project for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Summary
The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a business meeting on July 30, 2025 to consider 24 bills aimed at improving veterans' care and benefits. The bills addressed a wide range of issues affecting veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including improvements to the Veterans Community Care Program, coordination of care for seniors enrolled in both Medicare and VA, mental health and addiction therapy quality assessments, expansion of the VetSuccess on Campus program, and lactation spaces in VA medical centers. Additional bills focused on family caregiver benefits, military sexual trauma care, service dog programs, disability compensation increases, and facility improvements. As a business meeting rather than a hearing with external witnesses, the session was focused on committee consideration of the legislation rather than testimony from outside parties. The bills covered diverse veteran needs including mental health support, education and employment assistance, women's health research, religious heritage recognition for fallen servicemembers, and accessibility improvements. Business meetings of this type allow committees to review and potentially advance legislation, though consideration in committee does not guarantee a bill will be voted on or passed by the full Senate.
Video
Watch videoCongress
119th Congress
Introduced
Apr 1, 2025
