U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced bipartisan legislation on Tuesday that would give survivors of military sexual assault more health care options.
Under the Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment (SAVE) Act, S. 2521, survivors of military sexual assault would be able to seek care outside of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities when care needs aren’t being met. Its goal is to allow survivors to seek care from trusted providers with specialized training.
“The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2016 included efforts to strengthen policy for sexual assault prevention as well as increased victim support,” Ernst, a combat veteran and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said. “However, the Military SAVE Act works to continue to improve care for military sexual trauma survivors. This bipartisan legislation addresses the individualized needs of military sexual trauma survivors to ensure they have the ability to choose their own quality and timely care from a provider they trust.”
The Military SAVE Act would amend eligibility requirements for outside care outlined in the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act. Those eligibility requirements could be immediately waived with a call to the Veterans Choice Card benefits hotline.
Ernst’s bipartisan bill was co-sponsored by Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
“Victims of sexual assault in our military need a government on their side,” Mikulski, a member of the Senate Military Family Caucus, said. “This bipartisan legislation meets compelling human need for victims of military sexual assault by ensuring that they have access to timely care from a doctor in their own community that best suits their needs. Victims may suffer lasting trauma, prejudice and overwhelming obstacles, and it is our duty to provide them with a reliable healthcare system that can assist their needs. Promises made must be promises kept.”
U.S. Rep. U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) has introduced companion legislation, H.R. 2775, in the House, which presently has 57 bipartisan cosponsors.