H.R. 10870House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Military Domestic Violence Survivors Support Act

To amend title 10, United States Code, to extend Special Victim's Counsel services to victims of domestic violence, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated October 23, 2026 at 10:52 AM UTC

The Military Domestic Violence Survivors Support Act amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code to broaden the Special Victims' Counsel program so it also serves victims of domestic violence in the armed forces. It changes the law’s language to explicitly include domestic violence alongside sex‑related offenses, affecting service members who are domestic abuse victims and the officials who provide them legal and advocacy assistance.

Key Provisions

Updates Section 1044e to add “domestic violence” to the program’s heading and to the list of covered offenses.
Expands the definition of eligible victims to include those of domestic violence, not just sex‑related offenses.
Changes the term “domestic abuse advocate” to “domestic abuse victim advocate” and adds that role to the list of professionals who can assist victims.
Amends cross‑references in the statute to reflect the new language.
Sets the changes to take effect two years after the law is enacted.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to brief the Armed Services committees on implementation within one year of enactment.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

October 22, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 22, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

October 22, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 22, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10870

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 22, 2026

Ms. Goodlander (for herself and Mr. Bacon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to extend Special Victim’s Counsel services to victims of domestic violence, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Military Domestic Violence Survivors Support Act.

Extension of Special Victims’ Counsel services to domestic violence victims

(a)

Amendments

Section 1044e of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in the section heading, by inserting domestic violence and before sex-related offenses;

(2)

by inserting domestic violence or before sex-related offense each place it appears;

(3)

in subsection (b)(3), by striking domestic abuse advocate and inserting domestic abuse victim advocate;

(4)

in subsection (f)(1), by inserting domestic abuse victim advocate, after healthcare provider,; and

(5)

in subsection (h)—

(A)

in the subsection heading, by inserting domestic violence or before sex-related offense; and

(B)

in paragraph (1), by striking or 930 of this title (article 120, 120b, 120c, and inserting 928b, or 930 of this title (article 120, 120b, 120c, 128b,.

(b)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c)

Briefing

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the implementation of policies and procedures to carry out the changes required pursuant to subsection (a).