Bills · 118th Congress · Armed Forces and National Security

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and for other purposes.

Where it stands

  1. Introduced1/26/23
  2. Passed SenatePassed 7/13/23
  3. HousePassed 9/19/23
  4. PresidentSigned 10/6/23
  5. LawPublic Law 118-18

Passed the Senate by unanimous consent on July 13, 2023. Passed the House 422–0 on September 19, 2023 (Roll Call 399 →). Became Public Law 118-18 on October 6, 2023.

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Roll calls on this bill

Votes on passage
HouseOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · 9/19/23Suspension of the rulesA fast-track House procedure, usually for measures expected to have broad support. Debate is limited to 40 minutes, no amendments can be offered, and it needs a two-thirds vote of members voting — not a simple majority. A yes vote passes the bill.Rules of the House, Rule XV, clause 1 ↗
Passed
  • Democratic208 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Not voting
  • Republican214 Yea · 0 Nay · 7 Not voting
  • Independent / Other0 Yea · 0 Nay · 0 Not voting
Official summary (CRS)

This act addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and care for certain children with spina bifida or other birth defects. The act requires the VA to provide health care, job training, and monetary benefits for the duration of the child's life. The act covers a child, regardless of age or marital status, who (1) has spina bifida and is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran or a veteran of specified service in Korea or Thailand who was conceived after the date on which the veteran entered service in Vietnam, Korea, or Thailand; or (2) has certain birth defects and is the natural child of a woman Vietnam veteran.

The act requires the VA to establish an advisory council on health care and benefits for covered children. Additionally, the VA must establish care and coordination teams for covered children. At least every 180 days, the teams must conduct outreach to ensure the continued care of the children and assist with any necessary changes in care.

The VA must report to Congress a list of conditions that will trigger outreach to covered children and must attempt to contact such children as soon as practicable after the identification of a condition.

Full text on congress.gov ↗
Sponsor
Sen. Mike Braun ( Republican · IN)
Cosponsors
8
Introduced
1/26/23
Policy area
Armed Forces and National Security

What happens next

Became Public Law 118-18.

All actions (21)
  1. 1/26/23Introduced in Senate
  2. 1/26/23Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  3. 2/16/23Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
  4. 6/14/23Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester without amendment. Without written report.
  5. 6/14/23Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 101.
  6. 7/13/23Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2963; text: CR S2963-2964)
  7. 7/13/23Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2963; text: CR S2963-2964)
  8. 7/18/23Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  9. 7/18/23Received in the House.
  10. 7/18/23Held at the desk.
  11. 9/18/23Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  12. 9/18/23Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4361-4362)
  13. 9/18/23DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 112.
  14. 9/18/23At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Bost objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
  15. 9/19/23Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4404-4405)
  16. 9/19/23Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 0 (Roll no. 399). (text: 9/18/2023 CR H4361-4362)
  17. 9/19/23On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 0 (Roll no. 399). (text: 9/18/2023 CR H4361-4362)
  18. 9/19/23Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  19. 10/4/23Presented to President.
  20. 10/6/23Signed by President.
  21. 10/6/23Became Public Law No: 118-18.