# 117-hr-6961: Dignity for MST Survivors Act

117-hr-6961, Dignity for MST Survivors Act, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1] (D-IN); status became_law; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-01-05).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6961
- As of: 2026-01-05
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-6961
- Congress: 117
- Title: Dignity for MST Survivors Act
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2022-03-07
- Sponsor: Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1] (D-IN)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-01-05

## Summary

**Strengthening the VA's handling of military sexual trauma (MST) claims.** This law requires annual MST training for each Board of Veterans' Appeals member and creates trauma‑informed rules to speed and standardize MST compensation claims. - Veterans and appellants get faster, clearer handling of MST compensation claims and hearing requests, with notices and exams rewritten to avoid retraumatization. - Board members and adjudicators must be offered annual MST training and complete it before assignments to proceedings; the first training is to be offered within 180 days and the assignment rule applies to proceedings 180 days after enactment. - VA and contract medical examiners must follow trauma‑informed examination protocols when evaluating MST claims, and the Secretary must audit and update denial letters within 180 days in consultation with veterans service organizations.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL), 2022-03-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2022-03-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH), 2022-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2022-03-28T00:00:00.000Z

## Votes

| Date | Chamber | Question | Result | Yea | Nay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2022-05-18T00:00:00.000Z | house | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended | Passed | 405 | 12 |

## Provisions PRIA read

- Faster military sexual trauma appeals, trained Board: benefit, low. If you appeal an MST compensation claim and request a hearing, the Board must quickly decide if it is a covered case. Covered cases receive expedited, standardized handling at the Board. Every Board member must complete yearly training on military sexual trauma. The first training is offered within…
- Trauma-informed MST exams and letters: benefit, low. The law requires trauma‑informed care for military sexual trauma (MST) compensation exams. VA and contract doctors must follow protocols that avoid re‑traumatizing veterans. The VA must audit and rewrite denial letters for MST claims to use trauma‑informed language. The VA must finish these letter…

## Related bills

- 117-hr-1667: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act
- 117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act
- 117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act
- 117-hr-6860: Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2022
- 117-hr-6613: Keeping School Meals Flexible Act
- 117-hr-6411: STRONG Veterans Act of 2022

## Sources
- [117-hr-6961 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6961)

## Related
- [117-hr-1667: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1667)
- [117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-263)
- [117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1842)
- [117-hr-6860: Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6860)
- [117-hr-6613: Keeping School Meals Flexible Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6613)
- [117-hr-6411: STRONG Veterans Act of 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6411)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6961 (as of 2026-01-05).