136 STAT. 4179 PUBLIC LAW 117–271—DEC. 27, 2022 Public Law 117–271 117th Congress An Act 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROCESSING OF CLAIMS BY VET- ERANS FOR COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS BASED ON MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1166 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking ‘‘or air service’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘air, or space service’’; (2) in subsection (a)— (A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘IN GENERAL’’ and inserting ‘‘PROCESSING’’; (B) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: ‘‘(2) A peer support specialist of the Department— ‘‘(A) shall not be responsible for providing any assistance to a veteran regarding a claim described in paragraph (1), other than counseling services, guidance, and support, pursuant to duties determined by the Under Secretary for Health; and ‘‘(B) shall not participate in the adjudication of such a claim.’’; (3) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively; (4) by inserting, after subsection (a), the following new subsection (b): ‘‘(b) REFERRALS TO MST COORDINATORS.—The Secretary shall include, in forms for claims described in subsection (a), an option for a veteran to elect to be referred to a military sexual trauma coordinator of the Veterans Health Administration at the facility of the Department nearest to the residence of such veteran.’’; and (5) in subsection (c), as redesignated— (A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’; and (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that peer support specialists of the Department receive annual training on how to provide peer support regarding military sexual trauma. ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall provide annual training, regarding the processing of claims described in subsection (a), to the following individuals: Dec. 27, 2022 [H.R. 2724] VerDate Sep 11 2014 13:13 Jan 10, 2023 Jkt 039139 PO 00271 Frm 00001 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6581 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL271.117 PUBL271 whamilton on LAPJF8D0R2PROD with PUBLAW 136 STAT. 4180 PUBLIC LAW 117–271—DEC. 27, 2022 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2724: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022): May 18, considered and passed House. Dec. 15, considered and passed Senate. Æ ‘‘(A) Military sexual trauma coordinators of the Veterans Health Administration. ‘‘(B) Peer support specialists of the Department.’’; (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— (1) SECTION HEADING.—The heading of such section is amended by striking ‘‘Specialized teams to evaluate claims’’ and inserting ‘‘Claims’’. (2) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections at the begin- ning of chapter 11 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1166 and inserting the following: ‘‘1166. Claims involving military sexual trauma.’’. Approved December 27, 2022. 38 USC 1101 prec. VerDate Sep 11 2014 13:13 Jan 10, 2023 Jkt 039139 PO 00271 Frm 00002 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6580 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL271.117 PUBL271 whamilton on LAPJF8D0R2PROD with PUBLAW