S.Amdt. 1040

SA 1040. Ms. ROSEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
her to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10__. STUDIES AND REPORTS ON TREATMENT OF SERVICE OF
CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO SERVED
IN FEMALE CULTURAL SUPPORT TEAMS.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) In 2010, the Commander of United States Special
Operations Command established the Cultural Support Team
Program to overcome significant intelligence gaps during the
Global War on Terror.
(2) From 2010 through 2021, approximately 310 female
members, from every Armed Force, passed and were selected as
members of female cultural support teams, and deployed with
special operations forces.
(3) Members of female cultural support teams served
honorably, demonstrated commendable courage, overcame such
intelligence gaps, engaged in direct action, and suffered
casualties during the Global War on Terror.
(4) The Federal Government has a duty to recognize members
and veterans of female cultural support teams who volunteered
to join the Armed Forces, to undergo arduous training for
covered service, and to execute dangerous and classified
missions in the course of such covered service.
(5) Members who performed covered service have sought
treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs for
traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, and
disabling physical trauma incurred in the course of such
covered service, but have been denied such care.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the Sense of Congress that--
(1) individuals who performed covered service performed
exceptional service to the United States; and
(2) the Secretary of Defense should ensure that the
performance of covered service is included in the military
service record of each individual who performed covered
service so that those with service-connected injuries can
receive proper care and benefits for their service.
(c) Secretary of Defense Study and Report.--

[[Page S3543]]

(1) In general.--Not later than March 31, 2024, the
Secretary of Defense shall--
(A) carry out a study on the treatment of covered service
for purposes of retired pay under laws administered by the
Secretary; and
(B) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the
study carried out under paragraph (1).
(2) List.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)(B)
shall include a list of each individual who performed covered
service whose military service record should be modified on
account of covered service.
(d) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Study and Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than March 31, 2024, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
(A) carry out a study on the treatment of covered service
for purposes of compensation under laws administered by the
Secretary; and
(B) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the
study carried out under paragraph (1).
(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)(B)
shall include the following:
(A) A list of each veteran who performed covered service
whose claim for disability compensation under a law
administered by the Secretary was denied due to the inability
of the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine the injury
was service-connected.
(B) An estimate of the cost that would be incurred by the
Department to provide veterans described in subparagraph (A)
with the health care and benefits they are entitled to under
the laws administered by the Secretary on account of their
covered service.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2) Covered service.--The term ``covered service'' means
service--
(A) as a member of the Armed Forces;
(B) in a female cultural support team;
(C) with the personnel development skill identifier of R2J
or 5DK, or any other validation methods, such as valid sworn
statements, officer and enlisted performance evaluations,
training certificates, or records of an award from completion
of tour with a cultural support team; and
(D) during the period beginning on January 1, 2010, and
ending on August 31, 2021.
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