Young Kim (R-CA)
Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act
A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act," aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code. It seeks to improve the processing of claims related to military sexual trauma. The Act mandates annual sensitivity training for Department employees who process, communicate about, or decide these specific claims. Additionally, it requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update this training at least once a year and ensure training matches employee experience levels. The bill also expands the Secretary's duty to assist by requiring the collection of service personnel and medical records for these claims. Finally, it calls for reports regarding sensitivity training for contracted health care professionals to prevent veteran retraumatization.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +8
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill directly benefits veterans by improving the sensitivity of the claims process and assisting in record retrieval.
- Scored +7
Does this help veterans get medical care?
The bill improves veterans' healthcare by mandating sensitivity training to prevent retraumatization and expanding the duty to assist in obtaining medical records.
- Scored +7
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill enhances veterans' benefits by improving the handling of military sexual trauma claims through mandatory sensitivity training.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Mandatory Annual Sensitivity Training: Employees who process, communicate with claimants, or decide military sexual trauma claims must receive annual sensitivity training and updated training at least once a year (Section 2(a)(1)). This could improve how claimants are treated during the process.
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Tailored Training: The Secretary must ensure training is appropriate based on the amount of experience an employee has with these claims (Section 2(a)(1)). This ensures that staff members are adequately prepared for the complexity of the claims they handle.
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Expanded Assistance in Obtaining Records: For claims under section 1166, the Secretary's duty to assist now explicitly includes obtaining the claimant's service personnel record and service medical record (Section 2(b)). This could help streamline the evidence-gathering process for veterans.
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Prevention of Retraumatization: The bill requires a plan to improve sensitivity training for contracted health care professionals to ensure veterans are not retraumatized during examinations (Section 2(c)). This aims to protect the mental well-being of veterans making these claims.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill directly benefits veterans by improving the sensitivity of the claims process and assisting in record retrieval. Would women be better off under this? — The bill specifically addresses military sexual trauma, which disproportionately affects women in the military.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — The bill improves veterans' healthcare by mandating sensitivity training to prevent retraumatization and expanding the duty to assist in obtaining medical records.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill enhances veterans' benefits by improving the handling of military sexual trauma claims through mandatory sensitivity training.
- 5/20/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 5/19/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2130-2131)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2130-2131)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2201.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2130-2132)
- Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 5/17/2025
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-98.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 71.
- 5/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/6/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 4/9/2025
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 4/4/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
- 3/24/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/18/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Don BaconRepublican · Nebraska
Nikki BudzinskiDemocrat · Illinois
Chrissy HoulahanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Aumua Amata RadewagenRepublican · American Samoa
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia