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H.R. 3356House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

HAVANA Act of 2021

Sponsored by Adam B. SchiffRep. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA)
Introduced May 19, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 3:15 AM UTC

The HAVANA Act creates a new authority for the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of State to provide monetary payments to employees, dependents, or other covered individuals who suffer qualifying brain injuries. It sets limits on how the payments can be funded, requires the agencies to issue regulations governing the program, and mandates regular reporting to Congress. The law applies to injuries occurring before or after its enactment and does not affect eligibility for other government benefits.

Key Provisions

  • Allows the CIA Director to pay covered employees, dependents, or individuals for qualifying brain injuries, using appropriated funds and permitting lump‑sum or multiple payments, with regulations to define fair criteria.
  • Requires the CIA to submit classified annual reports on program use, spending, number of recipients, and an assessment of whether additional injury categories should be covered, plus a cost estimate for FY2023 and a feasibility study for a broader disability program.
  • Amends the 2020 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act to let the Secretary of State (or other agency heads) make similar payments for qualifying brain injuries to covered State Department personnel and their families, with the same funding and procedural limits.
  • Mandates that the State Department and other agency heads issue regulations for the payment program and submit classified annual reports and FY2023 cost estimates to the appropriate congressional committees.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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.

Foreign Affairs Committee

May 19, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 19, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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.

Foreign Affairs Committee

May 19, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 19, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3356

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 19, 2021

Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mr. Nunes, and Mr. Meeks) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, 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 amend the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 to authorize the provision of payment to personnel of the Central Intelligence Agency who incur qualifying injuries to the brain, to authorize the provision of payment to personnel of the Department of State who incur similar injuries, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks Act of 2021 or the HAVANA Act of 2021.

2.

Authority to pay personnel of Central Intelligence Agency for certain injuries to the brain

(a)

Payment authorized

Section 19A of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. 3519b) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Authority To make payments for qualifying injuries to the brain

(1)

Authority

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, but subject to paragraph (2), the Director may provide payment to a covered dependent, a covered employee, and a covered individual for a qualifying injury to the brain.

(2)

Limitations

(A)

Appropriations required

Payment under paragraph (1) in a fiscal year may only be made using amounts appropriated in advance specifically for payments under such paragraph in such fiscal year.

(B)

Matter of payments

Payments under paragraph (1) using amounts appropriated for such purpose shall be made either in the order in which claims for such payments are filed or on a pro-rata basis.

(C)

Amounts of payments

The total amount of funding obligated for payments under paragraph (1) may not exceed the amount specifically appropriated for providing payments under such paragraph during its period of availability.

(D)

Frequency of payments

The Director may make payments under paragraph (1) in a lump sum payment or through multiple payments, including, subject to subparagraph (A), payments occurring in more than one year.

(3)

Regulations

(A)

In general

The Director shall prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection.

(B)

Elements

The regulations prescribed under subparagraph (A) shall be consistent with this subsection and section 2 of the HAVANA Act of 2021, and include regulations detailing fair and equitable criteria for payment under paragraph (1).

(4)

No effect on other benefits

Payments made under paragraph (1) are supplemental to any other benefit furnished by the United States Government for which a covered dependent, covered employee, or covered individual is entitled, and the receipt of such payments may not affect the eligibility of such a person to any other benefit furnished by the United States Government.

.

(b)

Applicability

Payment under subsection (d) of such section, as added by subsection (a) of this section, may be made available for a qualifying injury to the brain that occurs before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act, as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency considers appropriate.

(c)

Clarifying amendment

Section 19A(b) of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. 3519b(b)) is amended, in the subsection heading, by inserting total disability resulting from before certain injuries.

(d)

Reports

(1)

Report on use of authority

(A)

In general

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the use of the authority provided by section 19A(d) of such Act, as added by subsection (a) of this section.

(B)

Contents

The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:

(i)

A budget or spend plan for the use of the authority described in subparagraph (A) for the subsequent fiscal year.

(ii)

Information relating to the use of the authority described in subparagraph (A) for the preceding year, including the following:

(I)

The total amount expended.

(II)

The number of covered dependents, covered employees, and covered individuals for whom payments were made.

(III)

The amounts that were provided to each person described in subclause (II).

(iii)

An assessment of whether additional authorities are required to ensure that covered dependents, covered employees, and covered individuals can receive payments for qualifying injuries, such as a qualifying injury to the back or heart.

(C)

Form

The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in classified form.

(2)

Report on estimated costs for fiscal year 2023

Not later than March 1, 2022, the Director shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing an estimate of the obligation that the Director expects to incur in providing payment under section 19A(d) of such Act, as added by subsection (a) of this section, in fiscal year 2023.

(3)

Report on feasibility of modifications to program

Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the feasibility of the Central Intelligence Agency adopting a disability benefits program similar to the disability benefits program of the Department of Defense.

(e)

Regulations

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall prescribe regulations required under section 19A(d)(3)(A) of such Act, as added by subsection (a) of this section.

(2)

Notice to Congress

Not later than 210 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the regulations prescribed in accordance with paragraph (1).

(f)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Appropriate congressional committees

The term appropriate congressional committees mean—

(A)

the congressional intelligence committees (as that term is defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)); and

(B)

the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

(2)

Covered dependent, covered employee, covered individual, and qualifying injury

The terms covered dependent, covered employee, covered individual, and qualifying injury have the meanings given such terms in section 19A(a) of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. 3519b(a)).

3.

Authority to pay personnel of Department of State for certain injuries to the brain

(a)

In general

Section 901 of title IX of division J of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (22 U.S.C. 2680b) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (f), by striking subsection (a) or (b) both places it appears and inserting subsection (a), (b), or (i); and

(2)

in subsection (h)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking In general.—This section and inserting Adjustment of compensation provision.—Subsections (a) and (b);

(B)

by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and

(C)

by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph:

(2)

Other payment provision

Payment under subsection (i) may be made available for a qualifying injury that occurs before, on, or after the date of the enactment of the HAVANA Act of 2021.

; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(i)

Other injuries

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, but subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of State or other agency head with an employee abroad may provide payment to a covered dependent, a dependent of a former employee, a covered employee, a former employee, and a covered individual for a qualifying injury to the brain.

(2)

Limitations

(A)

Appropriations required

Payment under paragraph (1) in a fiscal year may only be made using amounts appropriated in advance specifically for payments under such paragraph in such fiscal year.

(B)

Matter of payments

Payments under paragraph (1) using amounts appropriated for such purpose shall be made either in the order in which claims for such payments are filed or on a pro-rata basis.

(C)

Amounts of payments

The total amount of funding obligated for payments under paragraph (1) may not exceed the amount specifically appropriated for providing payments under such paragraph during its period of availability.

(D)

Frequency of payments

The Secretary or other agency head may make payments under paragraph (1) in a lump sum payment or through multiple payments, including, subject to subparagraph (A), payments occurring in more than one year.

(3)

Regulations

(A)

In general

The Secretary or other agency head described in paragraph (1) that provides payment under such paragraph shall prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection.

(B)

Elements

The regulations prescribed under subparagraph (A) shall include regulations detailing fair and equitable criteria for payment under paragraph (1).

(4)

No effect on other benefits

Payments made under paragraph (1) are supplemental to any other benefit furnished by the United States Government for which a covered dependent, dependent of a former employee, covered employee, former employee, or covered individual is entitled, and the receipt of such payments may not affect the eligibility of such a person to any other benefit furnished by the United States Government.

.

(b)

Reports

(1)

Reports on use of authority

(A)

In general

Not later than 365 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and each other agency head that makes a payment under subsection (i) of section 901 of title IX of division J of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (22 U.S.C. 2680b), as added by subsection (a) of this section, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the use of the authority provided by such subsection (i).

(B)

Contents

Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:

(i)

A budget or spend plan for the use of the authority described in subparagraph (A) for the subsequent fiscal year.

(ii)

Information relating to the use of the authority described in subparagraph (A) for the preceding year, including the following:

(I)

The total amount expended.

(II)

The number of covered dependents, covered employees, and covered individuals for whom payments were made.

(III)

The amounts that were provided to each person described in subclause (II).

(iii)

An assessment of whether additional authorities are required to ensure that covered dependents, covered employees, and covered individuals can receive payments for qualifying injuries, such as a qualifying injury to the back or heart.

(C)

Form

The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in classified form.

(2)

Reports on estimated costs for fiscal year 2023

Not later than March 1, 2022, the Secretary of State and each other agency head that makes a payment under subsection (i) of section 901 of title IX of division J of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (22 U.S.C. 2680b), as added by subsection (a) of this section, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing an estimate of the obligation that the Director expects to incur in providing payment under such subsection (i) in fiscal year 2023.

(c)

Regulations

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and each other agency head that makes a payment under subsection (i)(1) of section 901 of title IX of division J of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (22 U.S.C. 2680b), as added by subsection (a) of this section, shall prescribe regulations required under subsection (i)(3)(A) of such Act.

(2)

Notice to Congress

Not later than 210 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the agency heads described in paragraph (1) shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the regulations prescribed in accordance with paragraph (1).

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Appropriate congressional committees

The term appropriate congressional committees means—

(A)

the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and

(B)

the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Covered dependent, covered employee, covered individual, and qualifying injury

The terms covered dependent, covered employee, covered individual, and qualifying injury have the meanings given such terms in section 901(e) of title IX of division J of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (22 U.S.C. 2680b(e)).