PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 115-240.
Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · Sep 17, 2018
Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire at least 50 Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists under the Veterans Justice Outreach Program. Each of these specialists must serve as part of a justice team in a veterans treatment court or other veteran-focused court.
A specialist hired under this bill must be placed at a VA medical center that:
complies with VA guidelines for specialist placement,
works within a local criminal justice system with justice-involved veterans,
maintains an affiliation with one or more veterans treatment courts or other veteran-focused courts, and
provides specialists or establishes a VA-approved plan to provide specialists to serve as part of a justice team.
The VA shall prioritize the placement of these specialists at medical centers that have an affiliation with a court that was established after this bill's enactment or is not fully staffed with specialists.
The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the Veterans Justice Outreach Program.
People & committees
Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6] · R–CO
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 115-240.
Became Public Law No: 115-240.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5869)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5869)
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 466.
Received in the Senate.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5133-5134)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5133-5134)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2147.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5133-5135)
Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 525.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-682.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-682.
Subcommittee on Health Discharged.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.2147 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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