Bill Overview
Title: Veteran Restitution and Justice Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide retroactive benefits payments for veterans with covered health conditions (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) based on military sexual trauma experienced during active service.
Sponsors: Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans with military sexual trauma and covered health conditions
Estimated Size: 1500000
- The bill specifically addresses veterans who have suffered military sexual trauma (MST) during their service.
- It also requires that these veterans suffer from covered health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of MST.
- Military sexual trauma includes psychological trauma that results from physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment that occurred while the veteran was serving on active duty or active duty for training.
- As of recent data, there are approximately 19 million veterans in the United States.
- According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 100 men responded "yes" when screened for military sexual trauma.
- PTSD is one of the most common conditions diagnosed in veterans who have experienced MST.
- Given these factors, the estimated global population, which primarily comprises US veterans, is noted.
Reasoning
- The policy is designed to provide financial restitution and justice for veterans who suffered military sexual trauma (MST) and now live with conditions like PTSD.
- With a substantial budget, this policy can reach a sizable portion of the target population of veterans who have reported MST and PSTD.
- Given the budget limitations, it is crucial to prioritize veterans with the most severe conditions or those who are most in need of financial support.
- Including people not impacted by the policy ensures a realistic depiction of its reach and efficacy.
- Cantril scores help in gauging wellbeing impacts, offering more nuanced data on perceived happiness and life satisfaction before and after policy intervention.
Simulated Interviews
Veteran, Part-time Security Consultant (Austin, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy validates the trauma I experienced and provides the financial support I desperately need.
- Retroactive benefits might help me pay off medical debts accumulated over the years.
- It's encouraging that the government recognizes the importance of addressing MST.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired Veteran, Counselor (San Diego, California)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The retroactive pay will help provide stability and validate our experiences.
- I hope it includes counseling services alongside financial compensation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Veteran, Social Work Master's Student (Baltimore, Maryland)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is like a beacon of hope for those who feel forgotten.
- The financial help can provide access to better therapy options.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired Logger (Miami, Florida)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I'm glad for others, the policy doesn't affect me as I don't have MST-related claims.
- Resources should prioritize individuals with severe difficulties.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veteran, Activist (Portland, Oregon)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The act helps assure me and my peers that our struggles are acknowledged.
- Hopefully, it also helps others in forgotten cases gain more visibility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Full-time Student (Charleston, South Carolina)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Receiving financial aid for past suffering could lift a significant burden.
- I'm glad there's more focus on MST issues within veteran care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired, Volunteer at Veterans Organizations (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative is crucial for addressing long-overdue injuries in veterans.
- My wellbeing isn't directly impacted, but it's important for those who need it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Veteran, Freelance Writer (New York, New York)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The possibility of compensation reassures me that the trauma I endured is recognized.
- This financial aid might make pursuing creative passion projects viable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Veteran, Teacher (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Retroactive benefits might enable me to fund further education and improve my career prospects.
- It gives me hope that things can get better with adequate support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Veteran, Small Business Owner (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although I won't benefit, I support any effort that aids MST survivors.
- It's essential for all veterans to feel that their service and sacrifices are honored.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000000 (Low: $15000000000, High: $25000000000)
Year 2: $18000000000 (Low: $13000000000, High: $23000000000)
Year 3: $16000000000 (Low: $11000000000, High: $21000000000)
Year 5: $14000000000 (Low: $9000000000, High: $19000000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- There may be significant administrative challenges and costs to ensure accurate back payments and verification of claims.
- The potential positive effects on the well-being of veterans could lead to longer-term reductions in healthcare costs due to improved mental health outcomes.
- There may be legal or operational constraints in accurately identifying and verifying all eligible claims.