H.R. 6125 – Supporting Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma Act of 2020

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:14 AM UTC

The Supporting Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma Act of 2020 requires the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to work together to create and maintain a coordinated care system for service members who have experienced sexual trauma. Within one year they must develop a standard that includes information sharing, training, and linking survivors to Veterans Affairs resources. The law also mandates a series of reports to Congress on treatment availability, progress, and any updates to the standard.

Key Provisions

Within one year, the Defense and Veterans Affairs secretaries must develop, implement, and keep a coordinated‑care standard for military sexual trauma survivors.
The standard must ensure DoD facilities post information about VA services and that Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Uniformed Victim Advocates receive annual training on VA resources.
When a survivor reports sexual trauma, the DoD coordinator must connect them to the nearest VA Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator.
Within 180 days of enactment, the secretaries must report to Congress on the availability of residential treatment programs, identifying barriers and needed resources.
After the standard is in place, the secretaries must submit an initial report, followed by progress reports 180 days later and annually on December 1, plus reports whenever the standard is updated.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

June 16, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 5, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Armed Services Committee

March 5, 2020

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

June 16, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 5, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6125

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 5, 2020

Ms. Speier (for herself, Ms. Brownley of California, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Cohen, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. DeFazio, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To direct the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to coordinate support for survivors of sexual trauma.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Supporting Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma Act of 2020.

2.

Coordination of support for survivors of sexual trauma

(a)

In general

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs shall jointly develop, implement, and maintain a standard of coordinated care for members of the Armed Forces who are survivors of sexual trauma. Such standard shall include the following:

(b)

Minimum elements

The standard developed and implemented under subsection (a) by the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs shall include the following:

(1)

Information for members of the Armed Forces

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that—

(A)

information is posted in each facility of the Department of Defense regarding services furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to survivors of sexual trauma; and

(B)

Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Uniformed Victim Advocates receive annual training on resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding sexual trauma.

(2)

Coordination between staff of the Departments

The Secretaries shall ensure that a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator or Uniformed Victim Advocate of the Department of Defense who receives a report of an instance of sexual trauma connects each survivor to the Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator of the Department of Veterans Affairs at the facility of that Department nearest to the residence of that survivor.

(c)

Reports

(1)

Report on residential treatment

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs shall provide a report to the appropriate committees of Congress regarding the availability of residential treatment programs for survivors of sexual trauma, including—

(A)

barriers to access for such programs; and

(B)

resources required to reduce such barriers.

(2)

Initial report

Upon implementation of the standard under subsection (a), the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the standard.

(3)

Progress reports

Not later than 180 days after submitting the initial report under paragraph (2), and on December 1 of each subsequent year, the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the progress of the Secretaries in implementing and improving the standard.

(4)

Updates

Whenever the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs update the standard developed under subsection (a), the Secretaries shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on such update, including a comprehensive and detailed description of such update and the reasons for such update.

(d)

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

The term sexual trauma means psychological trauma described in section 1720D(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code.

(2)

The term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(A)

the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and

(B)

the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate.