Bill to Protect Veterans Passes House

On July 31, the House passed by voice vote, under suspension of the rules, the Senate amendments to the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act (H.R. 1627). The House version of the bill passed in the House on May 23. On July 18, the Senate amended H.R. 1627 and approved the measure.

Among other provisions, the bill would require the secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a plan designed to report and track sexual assault in the military. Reports would be required to include instances of actual, attempted, suspected, or planned sexual abuse; “criminal and purposefully unsafe acts”; substance abuse-related acts; and actions relating to patient abuse. The implementation plan would be required to include a mental health care and substance abuse program. The legislation also would require development of a sexual assault risk assessment program for veterans treated in a medical facility to “examine any risks related to sexual assault that a veteran may pose while being treated at a medical facility of the Department,” based on legal and medical history.

The bill would implement mandatory employee training for security issues, including awareness and police assistance, as well as mandatory use of precautionary equipment, such as surveillance cameras and panic alarms. Clearer guidelines for reporting and enforcing laws against sexual assault and the creation of an oversight system within the Veterans Health Administration would be priorities under the legislation.