On March 27, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on several bills, including H.R. 2527, the National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act, and H.R. 2974, a bill to provide beneficiary travel for veterans seeking treatment and care for military sexual trauma (MST) in specialized inpatient and outpatient programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), would permit veterans who served in the National Guard or reserve components of the armed forces and experienced military sexual assault during inactive duty training to receive the necessary counseling and care.
Speaking on behalf of the bill, Rep. Titus said, “Members of the National Guard or other reserve components who are the unfortunate victims of sexual assault while on active duty are, like members of the other armed forces, provided all the resources and services they need to recover and heal, physically and emotionally. This treatment is provided by the VA for free for as long as is needed…These benefits, however, are not offered to members of the National Guard or other reserve components who experience sexual assault while on inactive training missions.” She continued, “This oversight is simply unacceptable, and leaves so many who have served our country without assistance or support during a devastating time. The National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act would fix this omission and clarify that all victims of sexual trauma in the National Guard or other reserve components have access to the resources and services they need whether they are on active duty or on a required training mission.”
H.R. 2974
The legislation, sponsored by Jackie Walorski (R-IN), would make victims of military sexual trauma eligible for VA beneficiary travel benefits.
“MST-related care must be provided in a setting that is therapeutically appropriate, taking into account the circumstances that resulted in the need for such care,” said Rep. Walorski. “A supportive environment is essential for recovery. Thus, VA policy states that any veteran with MST must receive clinically appropriate care regardless of location. Veterans being treated for conditions associated with MST are often admitted to programs outside their Veterans Integrated Service Network. VA health care in general, especially for women, has been characterized as fragmented…According to a 2012 VA inspector general report, obtaining authorization for travel funding was frequently cited as a major problem for both patients and staff. The beneficiary travel policy indicates that only certain categories of veterans are eligible for travel benefits, and payment is only authorized to the closest facility providing a comparable service. The current beneficiary travel policy contradicts VA’s MST policy, which states that patients with MST should be referred to programs that are clinically indicated regardless of geographic location.”
The following witnesses also testified:
