United States 115th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 28 D · 2 R cosponsors

S 681 — Deborah Sampson Act

Last action — Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-299.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

In plain language

The bill aims to enhance benefits and services for women veterans.

The Deborah Sampson Act seeks to improve support for women veterans by establishing pilot programs, expanding services, and removing barriers. It includes initiatives like peer-to-peer assistance and additional funding for supportive services.

What this means for you
  • Workers: This means that women veterans may gain better access to employment mentoring and support services.

Summary

Deborah Sampson Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a three-year pilot program to assess the feasibility of peer-to-peer assistance for women veterans (including those who are separating or newly separated from the Armed Forces), with emphasis placed on women who suffered service-related sexual trauma or who are at risk of becoming homeless. Additionally, the VA shall: expand the women veterans call center to include a text messaging capability; establish a partnership with at least one nongovernmental organization to provide legal services to women veterans based upon their 10 highest unmet needs; retrofit VA medical facilities with fixtures, materials, and other outfitting measures to support the care of women veterans; ensure that each VA medical facility has at least one full-time or part-time women's health primary care provider; expand to 14 days VA post-delivery care services for women veterans who are receiving maternity care in a VA or VA-contracted facility; ensure that the women veteran manager program is supported at each VA medical center with a program manager and an ombudsman; collect, analyze, and publish data on each VA service or benefit program and disaggregate such data by sex and minority status; and publish an Internet website that serves as a centralized information source for women veterans' benefits and services. The bill makes funds available for: (1) primary care and emergency care clinicians' participation in the women veterans health care mini-residency program, and (2) organizations that focus on providing assistance to women veterans and their families. The bill: (1) provides for reintegration and readjustment services to veterans and family members in group retreat settings, and (2) expresses the sense of Congress that the VA's motto should be more inclusive.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

10 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands and improves benefits and services for women veterans, specifically regarding peer-to-peer assistance, legal services, supportive services funding, and newborn care.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1712A

    Counseling → (i) Counseling

    Changes the structuring of counseling services to include a new designation.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1712A

    (ii)(I) Except as provided in subclause (IV), counseling furnished to an individual under subparagraph (A) may include reintegration and readjustment services described in subclause (II) furnished in group retreat settings.

    Allows counseling services for reintegration and readjustment to be provided in group settings.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1712A

    (II) Reintegration and readjustment services described in this subclause are the following: (aa) Information on reintegration of the individual into family, employment, and community. (bb) Financial counseling. (cc) Occupational counseling. (dd) Information and counseling on stress reduction. (ee) Information and counseling on conflict resolution. (ff) Such other information and counseling as the Secretary considers appropriate to assist the individual in reintegration into family, employment, and community.

    Defines specific reintegration and readjustment services for individuals in group settings.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1712A

    (III) In furnishing reintegration and readjustment services under subclause (I), the Secretary shall offer women the opportunity to receive such services in group retreat settings in which the only participants are women.

    Mandates that female veterans can receive specific services in women-only group settings.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1712A

    (B) Upon the request of an individual described in paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary shall furnish the individual reintegration and readjustment services in group retreat settings under paragraph (1)(B)(ii).

    Ensures that individuals can specifically request reintegration and readjustment services in group settings.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 2044

    2017 → 2016

    Alters the fiscal year reference for supportive services funding from 2017 to 2016.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 2044

    $340,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018.

    Allocates a specified amount of funding for supportive services for veteran families in the stated fiscal years.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 2044

    Not less than $20,000,000 shall be available under paragraph (1)(F) for the provision of financial assistance under subsection (a) to organizations that have a focus on providing assistance to women veterans and their families.

    Sets a minimum funding requirement for organizations assisting women veterans and their families.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1786

    seven days → 14 days

    Extends the period of eligibility for care for newborn children of women veterans from seven to fourteen days.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1786

    Amounts paid by the Department for medically necessary travel in connection with health care services furnished under this section shall be derived from the Medical Services appropriations account of the Department.

    Clarifies the source of funding for travel related to medically necessary newborn care.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

  3. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-299.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 29 co-sponsors · 517 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (29)

Not signed on (517)

517 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights veterans
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Frequently asked questions

What does S 681 do?
Deborah Sampson Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a three-year pilot program to assess the feasibility of peer-to-peer assistance for women veterans (including those who are separating or newly separated from the Armed Forces), with emphasis placed on women who suffered service-related sexual trauma or who are at risk of becoming homeless. Additionally, the VA shall: expand the women veterans call center to include a text messaging capability; establish a partnership with at least one nongovernmental organization to provide legal services to women veterans based upon their 10 highest unmet needs; retrofit VA medical facilities with fixtures, materials, and other outfitting measures to support the care of women veterans; ensure that each VA medical facility has at least one full-time or part-time women's health primary care provider; expand to 14 days VA post-delivery care services for women veterans who are receiving maternity care in a VA or VA-contracted facility; ensure that the women veteran manager program is supported at each VA medical center with a program manager and an ombudsman; collect, analyze, and publish data on each VA service or benefit program and disaggregate such data by sex and minority status; and publish an Internet website that serves as a centralized information source for women veterans' benefits and services. The bill makes funds available for: (1) primary care and emergency care clinicians' participation in the women veterans health care mini-residency program, and (2) organizations that focus on providing assistance to women veterans and their families. The bill: (1) provides for reintegration and readjustment services to veterans and family members in group retreat settings, and (2) expresses the sense of Congress that the VA's motto should be more inclusive.
Who sponsors S 681?
S 681 is sponsored by Tester, Jon (Democratic), Boozman, John (Republican), Kaine, Tim (Democratic), Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (Democratic), Blumenthal, Richard (Democratic), Murray, Patty (Democratic), Baldwin, Tammy (Democratic), Nelson, Bill (Democratic), Hassan, Margaret Wood (Democratic), Schatz, Brian (Democratic), Brown, Sherrod (Democratic), Shaheen, Jeanne (Democratic), Feinstein, Dianne (Democratic), Van Hollen, Chris (Democratic), Reed, Jack (Democratic), Franken, Al (Democratic), Booker, Cory A. (Democratic), Harris, Kamala D. (Democratic), Whitehouse, Sheldon (Democratic), Stabenow, Debbie (Democratic), Duckworth, Tammy (Democratic), Cortez Masto, Catherine (Democratic), Capito, Shelley Moore (Republican), Smith, Tina (Democratic), Casey, Robert P., Jr. (Democratic), Merkley, Jeff (Democratic), Menendez, Robert (Democratic), Warren, Elizabeth (Democratic), Peters, Gary C. (Democratic), and Cardin, Benjamin L. (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 681?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 681?
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