Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Pingree
In Committee
Summary
Would expand access and strengthen Veterans Affairs handling of Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The bill would broaden who can get MST counseling and care and would set new evidence and claims rules to reduce re-traumatization.
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- Veterans and former Reserve members: would make all former Reserve Component members eligible for MST counseling and treatment and require trauma-informed outreach to people denied MST claims within 180 days.
- Disability claimants: would create a new §1166A that requires a current mental health diagnosis, gives claimants notice and a chance to supply corroborating evidence, accepts broad nonmilitary evidence like law enforcement records or family statements, and mandates processing by specialized MST adjudication teams with a dedicated point of contact.
- VA patients and staff: would require MST medical exams at VA facilities, set up cross-agency workgroups to reform exams and communications, require a year-long VA study with a report in one year, and mandate annual accuracy reviews with a statutory sunset once accuracy goals are met.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Broader evidence rules for MST claims
If enacted, the VA would have to accept a wider set of evidence when you claim a mental health condition came from military sexual trauma. The bill would require a current diagnosis by a qualified mental health professional and a medical link to the MST event. It would list many types of acceptable corroboration, like police records, medical tests, statements from family or clergy, and behavior changes. The VA could not deny a claim before telling the claimant what evidence might help and giving time to provide it, and specialized teams would handle these claims.
More sexual trauma counseling for Reservists
If enacted, more former Reserve-component members would be able to get VA counseling and treatment for military sexual trauma. The bill would count service on active duty, active-duty for training, or inactive-duty training when deciding eligibility. Discharges by court-martial or those barred under section 5303 would generally still block benefits unless the Secretary makes an exception. The bill would also define what counts as sexual harassment for these services.
Safer, VA-based medical exams for MST
If enacted, VA would form a workgroup within 90 days to review medical exams used in MST claims and report recommendations within 180 days and to Congress within a year. The bill would require steps to reduce re-examinations and re‑traumatization. It would also let a veteran request that a required MST-related exam take place at a VA medical facility and be done by a qualified VA employee rather than at a contractor site.
Yearly accuracy checks for MST claims
If enacted, VA would run an annual, statistically based review of how accurately MST-related disability claims are processed. If the review finds entitlement errors, those claims must be returned for reprocessing. The reviews would continue until accuracy is at least 95% for five straight years. VA must also complete a study and report to Congress within one year on training and claims-review quality.
Faster trauma-informed VA notices
If enacted, VA written messages to people who experienced military sexual trauma would include contact details for VBA and VHA MST coordinators, the Veterans Crisis Line, and the nearest VA facility and Vet Center. The VA would have to send this contact information within 14 days after a claimant files an MST-related disability claim. The bill also requires an outreach program within 180 days, with veteran input and targeted notices to veterans whose MST claims were denied, and a workgroup to make correspondence less retraumatizing.
Service academy leavers get MST records
If enacted, the VA would work with Defense, Homeland Security, and Transportation to give people who leave service academies information about VA care and counseling for military sexual trauma. Those individuals would be offered copies of service treatment and personnel records, reporting forms about assaults or harassment, and investigative reports from their academy service.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Pingree
ME • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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