{"format":1,"id":"117-hr-6961","congress":117,"number":"H.R. 6961","kind":"bill","group":"bills","title":"Dignity for MST Survivors Act","title_source":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","official_title":"To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve hearings before the Board of Veterans' Appeals regarding claims involving military sexual trauma.","titles":[{"type":"Official Title as Introduced","title":"To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve hearings before the Board of Veterans' Appeals regarding claims involving military sexual trauma."},{"type":"Display Title","title":"Dignity for MST Survivors Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"Dignity for MST Survivors Act"}],"outcome":"became_law","law_number":"Public Law 117-300","introduced":"2022-03-07","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2022-05-18","vote":{"id":"117-2022-h216","question":"On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended","title":"To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve hearings before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals regarding claims involving military sexual trauma","result":"Passed","yea":405,"nay":12,"present":0,"not_voting":11,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2022/roll216.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"voice","date":"2022-12-19","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: 117-300.","date":"2022-12-27"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[],"other_votes":[],"crs_summary":{"date":"2022-12-27","stage":"Public Law","blocks":[{"k":"p","t":"This act modifies communications and procedures for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) regarding claims for compensation based on military sexual trauma (MST) experienced by veterans."},{"k":"p","t":"The act requires the VA to ensure each member of the BVA is offered annual training on MST and proceedings that concern a claim for compensation based on MST. A proceeding that concerns a claim for compensation based on MST may not be assigned to a member of the BVA (or a panel of members) unless such persons have completed the annual training."},{"k":"p","t":"When a notice of disagreement is filed, the BVA must promptly determine whether it is filed for a case that concerns a claim for compensation based on MST and for which the appellant has requested a hearing in the notice."},{"k":"p","t":"The VA must audit the language used in letters sent to individuals to explain decisions denying claims for compensation based on MST. Letters must be modified to ensure (1) the use of trauma-informed language, and (2) veterans are not retraumatized through insensitive language."},{"k":"p","t":"The VA must establish protocols for VA medical providers and contract medical providers to ensure that the medical providers use trauma-informed practices in conducting examinations in relation to claims for compensation based on MST."}],"words":212},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Changes Board of Veterans' Appeals training and procedures, and Department of Veterans Affairs letters and medical examination protocols, for claims for compensation based on military sexual trauma.","cites":[{"label":"Sec. 1","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6961/text/enr#H6560A7ADA9BF43A3BD4EEBB739E0833A:~:text=1.%20Requirement%20for%20training%20on%20claims%20involving"},{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6961/text/enr#H5CDBDB68067C4436BB26836EC596CE68:~:text=2.%20Review%20of%20language%20and%20practices%20used"}]},"core_areas":["Board of Veterans' Appeals training on military sexual trauma claims","Board handling of notices of disagreement in military sexual trauma cases","Language of denial letters for military sexual trauma claims","Trauma-informed medical examination protocols"],"what_it_does":[{"text":"Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure each member of the Board of Veterans' Appeals is offered annual training on military sexual trauma and on proceedings concerning claims for compensation based on it.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 1","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6961/text/enr#H6560A7ADA9BF43A3BD4EEBB739E0833A:~:text=1.%20Requirement%20for%20training%20on%20claims%20involving"}},{"text":"Bars assigning a proceeding on such a claim to a Board member or panel unless each member has completed the annual training most recently offered to that member.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 1","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6961/text/enr#H6560A7ADA9BF43A3BD4EEBB739E0833A:~:text=1.%20Requirement%20for%20training%20on%20claims%20involving"}},{"text":"Requires the first annual training to be offered, and applies the assignment limit to proceedings assigned, on or after the date 180 days after enactment.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 1","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6961/text/enr#H6560A7ADA9BF43A3BD4EEBB739E0833A:~:text=1.%20Requirement%20for%20training%20on%20claims%20involving"}},{"text":"Requires the Board to promptly determine whether a notice of disagreement is a covered case, meaning a military sexual trauma compensation claim for which the appellant requested a hearing in the notice.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6961/text/enr#H5CDBDB68067C4436BB26836EC596CE68:~:text=2.%20Review%20of%20language%20and%20practices%20used"}},{"text":"Requires the Secretary to audit the language of letters explaining denials of such claims and, within 180 days after enactment, modify the letters to use trauma-informed language and not re-traumatize veterans through insensitive language.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6961/text/enr#H5CDBDB68067C4436BB26836EC596CE68:~:text=2.%20Review%20of%20language%20and%20practices%20used"}},{"text":"Requires the Secretary to establish protocols so that Department medical providers and contract medical providers use trauma-informed practices when conducting examinations regarding such claims.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6961/text/enr#H5CDBDB68067C4436BB26836EC596CE68:~:text=2.%20Review%20of%20language%20and%20practices%20used"}}],"unexpected":[],"version":{"type":"Enrolled Bill","date":null,"rule":"enrolled","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6961/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/6961","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6961/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/117-hr-6961.png","v":"e6fd9644d820","alt":"Votes on Record. H.R. 6961, 117th Congress: Dignity for MST Survivors Act. House: 405 Yea, 12 Nay. Senate: unanimous consent. Outcome: Became law, 27 Dec 2022."}}