{"format":1,"id":"117-hr-2724","congress":117,"number":"H.R. 2724","kind":"bill","group":"bills","title":"VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act","title_source":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","official_title":"To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for peer support specialists for claimants who are survivors of military sexual trauma, and for other purposes.","titles":[{"type":"Official Title as Introduced","title":"To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for peer support specialists for claimants who are survivors of military sexual trauma, and for other purposes."},{"type":"Display Title","title":"VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act"}],"outcome":"became_law","law_number":"Public Law 117-271","introduced":"2021-04-21","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2022-05-18","vote":{"id":"117-2022-h224","question":"On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended","title":"To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for peer support specialists for claimants who are survivors of military sexual trauma, and for other purposes","result":"Passed","yea":420,"nay":0,"present":0,"not_voting":8,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2022/roll224.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"voice","date":"2022-12-15","vote":null,"how":"unanimous_consent","words":"Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent."}},"president":{"status":"signed","date":"2022-12-27"},"vice_president_tie_breaker":null,"latest_action":{"text":"Became Public Law No: 117-271.","date":"2022-12-27"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[],"other_votes":[],"crs_summary":{"date":"2022-12-27","stage":"Public Law","blocks":[{"k":"p","t":"This act prescribes that a peer support specialist of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must not be responsible for providing assistance to a veteran regarding a claim for compensation for a covered mental health condition (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) based on military sexual trauma (MST) experienced during active service. Such specialists must only provide counseling services, guidance, and support and must not participate in the adjudication of the claim."},{"k":"p","t":"As part of the forms for claims for compensation for a covered mental health condition based on MST, the VA must include an option for a veteran to elect to be referred to a MST trauma coordinator at the VA facility closest to the veteran's residence."},{"k":"p","t":"Additionally, the VA must (1) ensure that its peer support specialists receive annual training on providing peer support regarding MST, and (2) provide annual training on the processing of claims for compensation for covered mental health conditions based on MST to its MST coordinators and peer specialists."}],"words":163},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Amends section 1166 of title 38, United States Code, to set the role of Department of Veterans Affairs peer support specialists, add a referral option on claim forms, and require annual staff training for veterans' claims involving military sexual trauma.","cites":[{"label":"Sec. 1","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2724/text/enr#H0F08FD7073E24B1A9E8AE317AAF30419:~:text=1.%20Improvements%20to%20the%20processing%20of%20claims"}]},"core_areas":["Role of Department of Veterans Affairs peer support specialists in military sexual trauma claims","Referral to military sexual trauma coordinators on claim forms","Annual training for peer support specialists and military sexual trauma coordinators"],"what_it_does":[{"text":"Provides that a Department of Veterans Affairs peer support specialist is not responsible for assisting a veteran with a claim described in section 1166(a) beyond counseling services, guidance, and support, under duties set by the Under Secretary for Health.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 1","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2724/text/enr#H0F08FD7073E24B1A9E8AE317AAF30419:~:text=1.%20Improvements%20to%20the%20processing%20of%20claims"}},{"text":"Prohibits a Department of Veterans Affairs peer support specialist from participating in the adjudication of a claim described in section 1166(a).","cite":{"label":"Sec. 1","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2724/text/enr#H0F08FD7073E24B1A9E8AE317AAF30419:~:text=1.%20Improvements%20to%20the%20processing%20of%20claims"}},{"text":"Requires the Secretary to include in forms for those claims an option for a veteran to elect referral to a Veterans Health Administration military sexual trauma coordinator at the Department facility nearest the veteran's residence.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 1","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2724/text/enr#H0F08FD7073E24B1A9E8AE317AAF30419:~:text=1.%20Improvements%20to%20the%20processing%20of%20claims"}},{"text":"Requires the Secretary to ensure that Department peer support specialists receive annual training on how to provide peer support regarding military sexual trauma.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 1","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2724/text/enr#H0F08FD7073E24B1A9E8AE317AAF30419:~:text=1.%20Improvements%20to%20the%20processing%20of%20claims"}},{"text":"Requires the Secretary to provide annual training on the processing of those claims to Veterans Health Administration military sexual trauma coordinators and to Department peer support specialists.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 1","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2724/text/enr#H0F08FD7073E24B1A9E8AE317AAF30419:~:text=1.%20Improvements%20to%20the%20processing%20of%20claims"}}],"unexpected":[],"version":{"type":"Enrolled Bill","date":null,"rule":"enrolled","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2724/text/enr"},"current":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","approved":"2026-10-15","approved_by":"checks"},"sources":{"congress_gov":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2724","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2724/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/117-hr-2724.png","v":"68b40ee8a36c","alt":"Votes on Record. H.R. 2724, 117th Congress: VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act. House: 420 Yea, 0 Nay. Senate: unanimous consent. Outcome: Became law, 27 Dec 2022."}}