SERVICE Act

II 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 1594 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for unlimited eligibility for health care for mental illnesses for veterans of combat service during certain periods of hostilities and war. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 22, 2019 Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself and Mr. CRAPO) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for unlim- ited eligibility for health care for mental illnesses for veterans of combat service during certain periods of hos- tilities and war. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Show Esteem and Re- 4 spect for Veterans by Increasing Care and Equity Act’’ 5 or the ‘‘SERVICE Act’’. 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:48 May 31, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1594.IS S1594 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •S 1594 IS SEC. 2. UNLIMITED ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE FOR 1 MENTAL ILLNESSES FOR VETERANS OF COM- 2 BAT SERVICE DURING CERTAIN PERIODS OF 3 HOSTILITIES AND WAR. 4 (a) ELIGIBILITY.—Section 1710(e)(1) of title 38, 5 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 6 following new subparagraph: 7 ‘‘(G) Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3), a vet- 8 eran who served on active duty in a theater of combat 9 operations (as determined by the Secretary in consultation 10 with the Secretary of Defense) during World War II, the 11 Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, the Persian Gulf War, 12 Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, 13 or any other period of war after the Persian Gulf War, 14 or in combat against a hostile force during a period in 15 which hostilities are occurring in that area, is eligible for 16 hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care 17 under subsection (a)(2)(F) for any mental illness, notwith- 18 standing that there is insufficient medical evidence to con- 19 clude that such illness is attributable to such service.’’. 20 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subparagraph (G) of section 21 1710(e)(1) of title 38, United States Code, as added by 22 subsection (a), shall apply with respect to hospital care, 23 medical services, and nursing home care provided on or 24 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 25 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:48 May 31, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S1594.IS S1594 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS