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116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 4451
To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify that caregivers for veterans
with serious illnesses are eligible for assistance and support services
provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 20, 2019
Mr. RUIZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify that care-
givers for veterans with serious illnesses are eligible for
assistance and support services provided by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Support Our Services
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to Veterans Caregivers Act’’ or the ‘‘S.O.S. Veterans
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Caregivers Act’’.
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•HR 4451 IH
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO SERVICES PROVIDED TO CARE-
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GIVERS OF VETERANS.
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(a) CAREGIVERS OF VETERANS WITH SERIOUS ILL-
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NESSES.—Paragraph (2)(B) of section 1720G(a) of title
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38, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘illness
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or’’ after ‘‘serious’’ each place it appears.
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(b) ASSESSING CAREGIVER AND VETERAN BURDEN
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AND SATISFACTION.—
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(1) SURVEY.—Paragraph (3)(A)(ii) of such sec-
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tion is amended—
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(A) in subclause (V), by striking ‘‘; and’’
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and inserting a semicolon;
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(B) in subclause (VI)(bb), by striking the
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period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
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(C) by adding at the end the following new
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subclause:
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‘‘(VII) not less than annually, a multi-
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dimensional assessment to measure, in both ob-
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jective and subjective terms, the burden and
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strain felt by the family caregiver.’’.
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(2) REPORTS.—Section 101(c)(2)(B) of the
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Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services
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Act of 2010 (38 U.S.C. 1720G note) is amended—
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(A) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and
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inserting a semicolon;
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•HR 4451 IH
(B) in clause (iii), by striking the period at
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the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
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(C) by adding at the end the following new
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clause:
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‘‘(iv) a description of the satisfaction
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experienced by caregivers and veterans
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with respect to such program, including
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any findings regarding whether such pro-
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gram reduces the burden and strain felt by
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caregivers.’’.
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(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
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subsection (a) shall apply with respect to services provided
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after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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Æ
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