H.R. 6036: To ensure that certain members of the Armed Forces who served in female cultural support teams receive proper credit for such service.

This bill aims to recognize and provide benefits for certain members of the Armed Forces who served in female cultural support teams between January 1, 2010, and August 31, 2021. The main points of the bill are as follows:

Recognition of Service

The bill mandates that within one year of its enactment, the relevant military Secretary must:

• Update Service Records: Include the performance of covered service in the military records of individuals who served in female cultural support teams.
• Retirement Pay: Ensure that the service is factored into the computation of retired pay for those individuals.

Claims for Veterans Benefits

When individuals file claims for service-related disabilities or deaths linked to their covered service, the bill stipulates that:

• Service Connection Determination: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must assess whether the disability or death is service-related.
• Treatment as Combat Service: This covered service will be treated as if it were engagement in combat when evaluating claims.
• Claims Processing Improvements: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, along with the Secretary of Defense, must enhance training and guidance for those processing these claims.
• Outreach Programs: The bill requires outreach to inform service members about their rights to file claims, including public notices and notifications to veterans organizations.

Study and Reporting Requirements

The bill also calls for a study and subsequent report to identify other military personnel who may have performed service similar to that of the covered service members but do not have this recognized in their military records. The Secretary of Defense, in cooperation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, must conduct this study and submit a report to Congress within one year after enactment.

Report on Claims for Service-Connected Disability

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to submit a report regarding covered claims, detailing:

• Number of claims submitted
• Claims granted
• Claims denied
• Unresolved claims
• Claims that have been appealed

This report must also separate data by the gender of the claimants and whether their military records include a combat identifier.

Adjustments to Housing Loan Fees

The bill proposes to adjust the due date for certain housing loan fees found in existing legislation, extending it to December 3, 2031.

Definitions

Key definitions relevant to the bill include:

• Covered Service: Service as a member of the Armed Forces in a female cultural support team with specific skill identifiers during the designated period.
• Active Service: Defined according to existing statutes related to military service.
• Service-Connected: As recognized in federal law regarding veteran services.

Relevant Companies

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