H.R. 2798House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 5:28 AM UTC

The Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans Act makes permanent a pilot program that offers group‑retreat counseling to women veterans who have recently left the Armed Forces after a long deployment. Run by the Veterans Health Administration’s Readjustment Counseling Service, the program is voluntary and provides help with family reintegration, employment, finances, stress reduction, conflict resolution and other related issues. It also requires the VA to report on the program to Congress every two years and removes an earlier statutory provision.

Key Provisions

Establishes a permanent counseling‑in‑retreat program for newly separated women veterans, beginning Jan. 1, 2021.
Participation is optional and the program is administered by the VA’s Readjustment Counseling Service.
Provides services including family, employment, and community reintegration information; financial and occupational counseling; stress‑reduction and conflict‑resolution guidance; and other support deemed appropriate.
Mandates biennial reports to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees on the program’s progress, starting Dec. 31, 2022.
Repeals a prior section of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 effective Dec. 31, 2020.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Health Subcommittee

September 11, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 16, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 16, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

June 11, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

June 11, 2019

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Health Subcommittee

September 11, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 16, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2798

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 16, 2019

Ms. Brownley of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed Forces.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans Act.

Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed Forces

(a)

Permanent program

(1)

In general

Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712C the following new section:

1712D.

Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated

(a)

Program

(1)

Commencing on January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall carry out, through the Readjustment Counseling Service of the Veterans Health Administration, a program to provide reintegration and readjustment services described in subsection (b) in group retreat settings to women veterans who are recently separated from service in the Armed Forces after a prolonged deployment.

(2)

The participation of a veteran in the program under paragraph (1) shall be at the election of the veteran.

(b)

Covered services

The services provided to a woman veteran under the program under subsection (a)(1) shall include the following:

(1)

Information on reintegration into the family, employment, and community of the veteran.

(2)

Financial counseling.

(3)

Occupational counseling.

(4)

Information and counseling on stress reduction.

(5)

Information and counseling on conflict resolution.

(6)

Such other information and counseling as the Secretary considers appropriate to assist the veteran in reintegration into the family, employment, and community of the veteran.

(c)

Biennial reports

Not later than December 31, 2022, and each even-numbered year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the program under subsection (a)(1).

(2)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1712C the following new item:

1712D. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated.

(b)

Conforming repeal

Effective December 31, 2020, section 203 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is repealed.