Bill Details
View committees (1)
View cosponsors (10)
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-New York-26]
- Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-Florida-13]
- Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-Florida-23]
- Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-South Carolina-1]
- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-North Carolina-1]
- Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-Michigan-8]
- Rep. Lee, Susie [D-Nevada-3]
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-New York-3]
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-Virginia-7]
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-New Jersey-5]
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would require Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and urgent care facilities to have trained staff who can properly examine people after a sexual assault. In most cases, each facility would need at least one sexual assault nurse examiner, and if that is not possible, another health care provider with the right training could fill that role. The bill also says that after an exam, veterans should be verbally referred to mental health care so they can get follow-up support. It is designed to make sure survivors can get skilled, trauma-informed care at VA facilities without weakening other patient care services.
- Each VA hospital and urgent care facility would need at least one sexual assault nurse examiner, or another trained provider if one cannot be hired.
- After a sexual assault exam, VA staff would have to refer the person to mental health care services.
- If mental health services at the VA hospital would take more than 30 days, the referral could go through a VA care agreement with another provider.
- The bill says these new duties should not reduce or interfere with other patient care work done by VA employees.
Official Summaries
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner in VA Hospitals Act of 2025 or the SANE Act of 2025
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to employ at each of its hospitals and urgent care facilities at least one sexual assault nurse examiner or a health care provider who is qualified to conduct a sexual assault forensic examination.
The bill also provides that after examining an individual for sexual assault, a VA health care provider must verbally refer the individual to mental health care services furnished by the VA in a VA hospital or by a non-VA provider under the Veterans Community Care Program if the wait time for services at a VA hospital exceeds 30 days.
In providing such duties related to sexual assault care, the VA must ensure that there is no reduction in, or negative effect on, the patient care responsibilities otherwise carried out by its employees.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 602 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 602
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that sexual
assault nurse examiners are employed at certain Department of Veterans
Affairs medical facilities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 22, 2025
Mr. Burchett (for himself, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mrs. Luna, Mr.
Moskowitz, Ms. Mace, and Mr. Davis of North Carolina) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that sexual
assault nurse examiners are employed at certain Department of Veterans
Affairs medical facilities, 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner in VA
Hospitals Act of 2025'' or the ``SANE Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. QUALIFICATIONS OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WHO PERFORM SEXUAL
ASSAULT EXAMINATIONS AT CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS MEDICAL FACILITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall employ, at
each hospital and urgent care facility of the Department of Veterans
Affairs--
(1) at least one sexual assault nurse examiner; or
(2) if the Secretary cannot so employ a sexual assault
nurse examiner, a health care provider qualified to conduct a
sexual assault forensic examination.
(b) Mental Health Care Referral.--After examining an individual for
sexual assault, a health care provider of the Department shall verbally
refer the individual to mental health care services furnished by the
Secretary--
(1) in a hospital of the Department; or
(2) pursuant to a Veterans Care Agreement under section
1703A of title 38, United States Code, if the wait time for
services described in paragraph (1) exceeds 30 days.
(c) Dedicated Responsibilities.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall ensure that there is no reduction in, or negative
effect on, the patient care responsibilities that are otherwise carried
out by employees of the Department.
(d) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``sexual assault nurse
examiner'' and ``sexual assault forensic examination'' have the
meanings given such terms in section 304(a) of the DNA Sexual Assault
Justice Act of 2004 (34 U.S.C. 40723(a)).
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