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H.R. 1607

Ruth Moore Act of 2015

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 16, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Ruth Moore Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress, by December 1, 2015 and each year thereafter through 2019, on claims submitted during the previous fiscal year for disability compensation based on a covered mental health condition alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma (covered claims).

Each report shall include:

  • the number of covered claims submitted or considered;
  • the number and percentage of such claims submitted by each sex, and the number of claims approved or denied;
  • the number and percentage, listed by each sex, of approved covered claims assigned to each rating percentage;
  • the three most common reasons for denial of covered claims, and the number of denials based on the veteran's failure to report for a medical examination;
  • the number of covered claims pending and the number on appeal;
  • the average number of days that covered claims take to complete; and
  • a description of related training provided to Veterans Benefits Administration employees.

The VA shall submit to Congress an initial report within 90 days after enactment of this Act, and annual reports beginning in December 2015.

It is the sense of Congress that the VA should update regulations regarding military sexual trauma by:

  • ensuring that military sexual trauma is specified as an in-service stressor in determining the service-connection of post-traumatic stress disorder, and
  • recognizing the full range of physical and mental disabilities (including depression, anxiety, and other disabilities as indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association) that can result from military sexual trauma.

For the period starting fifteen months after enactment of this Act and lasting until VA publishes updated regulations, the VA shall provide:

  • a copy of the congressional report to each veteran who has submitted a covered claim or been treated for military sexual trauma at a VA medical facility; and
  • monthly to each such veteran information that includes the date that the VA plans to complete such updated regulations, the number of granted or denied covered claims, a comparison to the rate of grants and denials with the rate for other claims regarding post-traumatic stress disorder, the three most common reasons for claim denials, and the average time for processing covered claims at each regional office.

The VA shall report to Congress monthly regarding: (1) all adjudicated covered claims and their outcomes, and (2) the reason for denial of any covered claim.

(Sec. 3) The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is amended to limit to $2 million during each of FY2016-FY2018 the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses paid to VA employees who are members of the Senior Executive Service.

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1](D-ME)Sponsor
31 cosponsors27 D4 R
31cosponsors2committees20actions2related bills7subjects
  1. IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  2. FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5517-5518)

  4. Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5517-5518)

  5. FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1607.

  6. FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5517-5519)

  7. FloorH30300

    Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  8. CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 156.

  9. CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 114-207.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  10. Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 114-207.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  11. Committee

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  12. Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  13. Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote .

    Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
  14. Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
  15. Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
  16. Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

    Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
  17. Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Health Subcommittee
  18. IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  19. IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  20. IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Jul 27, 201536

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 16, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Ruth Moore Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress, by December 1, 2015 and each year thereafter through 2019, on claims submitted during the previous fiscal year for disability compensation based on a covered mental health condition alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma (covered claims).

Each report shall include:

  • the number of covered claims submitted or considered;
  • the number and percentage of such claims submitted by each sex, and the number of claims approved or denied;
  • the number and percentage, listed by each sex, of approved covered claims assigned to each rating percentage;
  • the three most common reasons for denial of covered claims, and the number of denials based on the veteran's failure to report for a medical examination;
  • the number of covered claims pending and the number on appeal;
  • the average number of days that covered claims take to complete; and
  • a description of related training provided to Veterans Benefits Administration employees.

The VA shall submit to Congress an initial report within 90 days after enactment of this Act, and annual reports beginning in December 2015.

It is the sense of Congress that the VA should update regulations regarding military sexual trauma by:

  • ensuring that military sexual trauma is specified as an in-service stressor in determining the service-connection of post-traumatic stress disorder, and
  • recognizing the full range of physical and mental disabilities (including depression, anxiety, and other disabilities as indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association) that can result from military sexual trauma.

For the period starting fifteen months after enactment of this Act and lasting until VA publishes updated regulations, the VA shall provide:

  • a copy of the congressional report to each veteran who has submitted a covered claim or been treated for military sexual trauma at a VA medical facility; and
  • monthly to each such veteran information that includes the date that the VA plans to complete such updated regulations, the number of granted or denied covered claims, a comparison to the rate of grants and denials with the rate for other claims regarding post-traumatic stress disorder, the three most common reasons for claim denials, and the average time for processing covered claims at each regional office.

The VA shall report to Congress monthly regarding: (1) all adjudicated covered claims and their outcomes, and (2) the reason for denial of any covered claim.

(Sec. 3) The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is amended to limit to $2 million during each of FY2016-FY2018 the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses paid to VA employees who are members of the Senior Executive Service.

Jul 16, 201517

Ruth Moore Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress, by December 1, 2015 and each year thereafter through 2019, on claims submitted during the previous fiscal year for disability compensation based on a covered mental health condition alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma (covered claims).

Each report shall include:

  • the number of covered claims submitted or considered;
  • the number and percentage of such claims submitted by each sex, and the number of claims approved or denied;
  • the number and percentage, listed by each sex, of approved covered claims assigned to each rating percentage;
  • the three most common reasons for denial of covered claims, and the number of denials based on the veteran's failure to report for a medical examination;
  • the number of covered claims pending and the number on appeal;
  • the average number of days that covered claims take to complete; and
  • a description of related training provided to Veterans Benefits Administration employees.

The VA shall submit to Congress an initial report within 90 days after enactment of this Act, and annual reports beginning in December 2015.

It is the sense of Congress that the VA should update regulations regarding military sexual trauma by:

  • ensuring that military sexual trauma is specified as an in-service stressor in determining the service-connection of post-traumatic stress disorder, and
  • recognizing the full range of physical and mental disabilities (including depression, anxiety, and other disabilities as indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association) that can result from military sexual trauma.

For the period starting fifteen months after enactment of this Act and lasting until VA publishes updated regulations, the VA shall provide:

  • a copy of the congressional report to each veteran who has submitted a covered claim or been treated for military sexual trauma at a VA medical facility; and
  • monthly to each such veteran information that includes the date that the VA plans to complete such updated regulations, the number of granted or denied covered claims, a comparison to the rate of grants and denials with the rate for other claims regarding post-traumatic stress disorder, the three most common reasons for claim denials, and the average time for processing covered claims at each regional office.

The VA shall report to Congress monthly regarding: (1) all adjudicated covered claims and their outcomes, and (2) the reason for denial of any covered claim.

(Sec. 3) The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is amended to limit to $2 million during each of FY2016-FY2018 the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses paid to VA employees who are members of the Senior Executive Service.

Mar 25, 2015

Ruth Moore Act of 2015

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in any case in which a veteran claims that a covered mental health condition was incurred in or aggravated by military sexual trauma during active duty, to: (1) accept as sufficient proof of service-connection a diagnosis by a mental health professional together with satisfactory lay or other evidence of such trauma and an opinion by the mental health professional that such condition is related to such trauma if consistent with the circumstances, conditions, or hardships of such service, notwithstanding the fact that there is no official record of such incurrence or aggravation in such service; and (2) resolve every reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran. Allows such service-connection to be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.

Includes as a "covered mental health condition" post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health diagnosis that the Secretary determines to be related to military sexual trauma.

Requires the Secretary to report annually to Congress in each of 2016 through 2020 on covered claims submitted.

Ruth Moore Act of 2015 — Informed