Moral Injury Recognition and Restitution Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7976
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-09: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T08:05:48Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Moral Injury Recognition and Restitution Act (H.R. 7976) aims to provide retroactive veterans' benefits payments for health conditions linked to military sexual trauma (MST), which refers to sexual assault or repeated unwanted sexual contact during military service. It ensures approved claims receive compensation starting from the day after discharge, rather than later dates.
Key Provisions
- Adds a new section (5114) to title 38, United States Code (governing veterans' benefits):
- If the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) approves a claim for a covered health condition based on MST during active service, the award's effective date is the day after discharge.
- Monetary benefits are paid retroactively from that date, overriding standard rules on effective dates (sections 5110 and 5111).
- Covered health condition defined as:
- A covered mental health condition (e.g., PTSD, depression, or anxiety linked to MST, as defined in existing law).
- Any physical injury or disease causing disability that resulted from or was worsened by MST.
- Includes clerical update to the law's table of contents.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Normally, VA benefits effective dates are tied to the claim filing date or one year prior (sections 5110 and 5111). This bill creates an exception for MST-related claims, allowing full retroactivity to the post-discharge date regardless of when the claim is filed or approved.
Potential Impacts
- Veterans: Eligible survivors of MST can receive back payments covering years or decades of missed benefits, improving financial support and access to care.
- Government agencies: VA must process retroactive payments, potentially increasing short-term costs and administrative workload for reviewing MST claims.
- No direct impact on citizens broadly or international relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans with MST-related mental or physical disabilities (primary beneficiaries).
- Department of Veterans Affairs (handles claims and payments).
- Congress (oversees veterans' policy and funding).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a targeted exception to standard VA claims timelines, promoting equity for MST victims without altering unrelated benefits; relies on existing MST definitions for consistency.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; expands benefits under Congress's authority over veterans' affairs (Article I, Section 8).
- Political: Signals priority on military trauma support, potentially influencing VA funding debates and future expansions for underserved veteran groups.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
Cosponsors (13)
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3], Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-09: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 2026-03-18: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2026-03-18: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Moral Injury Recognition and Restitution Act — issued 2026-03-18 — PDF (3 pages)