1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Securing the Rights our Veterans have Earned Act of 2019” or the “SERVE Act of 2019”.
Securing the Rights our Veterans have Earned Act of 2019
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for certain individuals discharged from service in the Armed Forces by reason of sexual orientation or gender identity, and for other purposes.
2. Department of Veterans Affairs provision of hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for certain individuals discharged from service in the Armed Forces by reason of sexual orientation or gender identity
In general— Section 1710(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “any veteran—” and inserting “any individual who is—”;
in each of subparagraphs (A) through (G), by inserting “a veteran” before “who”;
in subparagraph (F), by striking “or” at the end;
in subparagraph (G), by striking the period and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(H) a former member of the Armed Forces who was discharged from service therein under conditions other than honorable or with an entry-level separation by reason of sexual orientation or gender identity, including by reason of a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.”
Effective date— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply—
to hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care furnished on or after such date; and
to an individual who is discharged from service in the Armed Forces before, on, or after such date.