H.R. 6961 · 117th Congress

Dignity for MST Survivors Act

Introduced on Mar 7, 2022 by Frank J. Mrvan (D-IN-1). 4 cosponsors, all from the sponsor's party. Became Public Law 117-300.

Stage
Became law
Public Law 117-300
Introduced
Mar 7, 2022
Cosponsors
4
0 from the other party
Policy area
Armed Forces and National Security
Open in the Congress explorerCongress.govAlert me

Progress

The furthest stage the measure reached. Simple and concurrent resolutions do not go to the President.

  1. Introduced
  2. Reported by committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Sent to the President
  6. Became law

Official title

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve hearings before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals regarding claims involving military sexual trauma.

Subjects

  • Administrative remedies
  • Assault and harassment offenses
  • Crime victims
  • Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Emergency medical services and trauma care
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Medical tests and diagnostic methods
  • Sex offenses
  • Veterans' medical care
  • Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary

By the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Dec 27, 2022). Public domain.

This act modifies communications and procedures for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) regarding claims for compensation based on military sexual trauma (MST) experienced by veterans.

The act requires the VA to ensure each member of the BVA is offered annual training on MST and proceedings that concern a claim for compensation based on MST. A proceeding that concerns a claim for compensation based on MST may not be assigned to a member of the BVA (or a panel of members) unless such persons have completed the annual training.

When a notice of disagreement is filed, the BVA must promptly determine whether it is filed for a case that concerns a claim for compensation based on MST and for which the appellant has requested a hearing in the notice.

The VA must audit the language used in letters sent to individuals to explain decisions denying claims for compensation based on MST. Letters must be modified to ensure (1) the use of trauma-informed language, and (2) veterans are not retraumatized through insensitive language.

The VA must establish protocols for VA medical providers and contract medical providers to ensure that the medical providers use trauma-informed practices in conducting examinations in relation to claims for compensation based on MST.

Sponsor and cosponsors

Cosponsors by party as of the day they signed on. Original cosponsors signed on the day of introduction.

Frank J. MrvanD-IN-1Sponsor

Democrats · 4

Roll calls

Recorded votes on the measure. Most measures move by voice vote or unanimous consent, which record no individual positions.

  1. On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
    May 18, 2022· House· Passage· Passed 405–12

History

Every action as published, oldest first. Roll calls link to how each member voted.

  1. Mar 7, 2022Introduced in House
  2. Mar 7, 2022Introduced in House
  3. Mar 7, 2022 · HouseReferred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  4. Mar 28, 2022 · HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
  5. Apr 6, 2022 · HouseSubcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged.
  6. Apr 6, 2022 · HouseCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  7. Apr 6, 2022 · HouseOrdered to be Reported (Amended).
  8. May 18, 2022 · HouseMr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  9. May 18, 2022 · HouseConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5107-5108)
  10. May 18, 2022 · HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6961.
  11. May 18, 2022 · HouseAt the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  12. May 18, 2022 · HouseConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5142)
  13. May 18, 2022Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 12 (Roll no. 216).House · Roll call 216
  14. May 18, 2022 · HouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 12 (Roll no. 216). (text: CR H5107)House · Roll call 216
  15. May 18, 2022 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  16. May 19, 2022 · SenateReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  17. Dec 19, 2022Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
  18. Dec 19, 2022 · SenateSenate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
  19. Dec 19, 2022Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  20. Dec 19, 2022 · SenatePassed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7302-7303)
  21. Dec 20, 2022 · SenateMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
  22. Dec 23, 2022Presented to President.
  23. Dec 23, 2022 · HousePresented to President.
  24. Dec 27, 2022Signed by President.
  25. Dec 27, 2022Signed by President.
  26. Dec 27, 2022Became Public Law No: 117-300.
  27. Dec 27, 2022Became Public Law No: 117-300.

Committees

Committees and subcommittees the measure was referred to.

Agencies in its committees' jurisdiction

Analisa's mapping of committee jurisdiction to federal agencies; the bill may touch others, or none of these.

Sources and method

Every figure on this page traces to these records.

  • Bill status: bills and resolutions, sponsors, actions, subjects and CRS summaries (U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo), from Congress.gov (Library of Congress))GovInfo Bill Status bulk data (Congress.gov; summaries by the Congressional Research Service) · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Members of Congress, their terms, committees and identifiers (The @unitedstates project (from the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, the House and the Senate))unitedstates/congress-legislators: legislators, committees and current committee membership · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication)
  • House roll-call votes (Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, roll-call vote records · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Senate roll-call votes and DW-NOMINATE scores (Voteview (UCLA Department of Political Science))Lewis, Jeffrey B., Keith Poole, Howard Rosenthal, Adam Boche, Aaron Rudkin, and Luke Sonnet (2026). Voteview: Congressional Roll-Call Votes Database. https://voteview.com/ · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Free to use with the required citation
  • Lobbying disclosures (LD-1 registrations, LD-2 quarterly reports, LD-203 contribution reports) (Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives)Clerk of the House, Lobbying Disclosure Act filings (organizations only; lobbyists' names are not loaded) · data current to Oct 5, 2026 · loaded Oct 5, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Positions are shown only where a roll call recorded them; voice votes and unanimous consent record none.