Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6411) to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the mental health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 6411, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6411, as amended, the Support The Resilience of Our Nation's Great Veterans Act, or STRONG Veterans Act.

Chairman Takano introduced this bill with Ranking Member Bost, and we are grateful to them and their staff for working together over many months to bring this vital package to the House floor. This represents a true bipartisan effort to address a pressing issue.

Although we all were glad to see the veteran suicide rate drop in the last year for which we have data, one death is one too many, and suicide is preventable. We must honor our veterans' service by getting them the care they have earned and deserve now.

Preventing veteran suicide and strengthening veterans' mental health and well-being remains a top priority not only of the Biden administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs but also of our committee. There are prevention approaches and treatments that work, and we must expand all veterans' access to these lifesaving and life- improving services.

Madam Speaker, while we are talking about access, I want to make sure everyone listening today has the Veterans Crisis Line phone number. If you or somebody you care about is in distress, call 1-800-273-TALK-- that is 1-800-273-8255--and press 1 for responders with military and veteran expertise. There is no reason to suffer alone.

Along with our colleagues in the Senate, we have advanced bipartisan bills over the past year that now make up the 22 sections of the STRONG Veterans Act.

I want to especially thank our colleagues both on and off the committee for their individual legislative contributions to this omnibus package.

Congresswoman Brownley, who chairs our Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee, introduced what we consider a cornerstone of STRONG--her American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Mental Health Act. This provision mandates that VA hire full-time minority veteran coordinators at every VA medical center to provide culturally competent mental health and suicide prevention outreach to our Tribal veterans.

Congresswoman Slotkin's Solid Start Act is included in STRONG and will ensure that VA continues to contact and check in with veterans following their transition from Active Duty during what we know is a very high-risk time for stress, mental health challenges, and even suicide.

The committee also was pleased to include the Veteran Peer Specialist Act from Congressman Scott Peters. This is an important provision directing VA to expand its peer specialist program which is extremely popular with veterans.

Although our colleague, former Congressman Delgado, recently left the House to become Lieutenant Governor of New York, I thank him for introducing the REACH for Veterans Act in the House. It is a critical component of STRONG and will strengthen VA's Veterans Crisis Line.

Finally, Chairman Takano's bill in STRONG, the VA Governor's Challenge Expansion Act, mandates, for the first time, VA-included Tribes in addition to States in the successful Governors' Challenge program to prevent veteran suicide. No sovereign nation should have to wait to be invited to a State Governor's Challenge team. Instead, Tribes selected for the program will work directly with VA to tailor innovative suicide prevention ideas to the needs of their own Native veterans.

Overall, STRONG will give VA important new authorities and resources to support veterans' mental health and well-being through increased training, outreach, mental health care delivery, and research in line with the committee's public health approach and President Biden's strategy to address veteran suicide.

It addresses gaps along the spectrum of prevention and care by expanding mental health outreach to traditionally underserved veterans, developing and delivering the most effective treatments, better equipping VA's workforce to provide care, and further strengthening VA's crisis response system.

With this legislation, we will help VA better meet veterans where they are--literally. STRONG directs VA to hire more mental health staff at vet centers close to where veterans live and work.

STRONG also directs VA to assess and improve how well it serves veterans on college campuses. It requires VA to more consistently and comprehensively reach out and provide mental health services to veterans who have been involved with the criminal justice system.

STRONG mandates that as the new three-digit crisis hotline number goes live across the country in July, VA further strengthen its Veterans Crisis Line to meet the predicted surge in demand for emergency care and followup.

STRONG lays out important guidance for VA's research program related to suicide, substance use challenges, and other mental health issues. While caring for veterans today, VA must always be investing in science and looking for tomorrow's innovative solutions to improve veterans' lives.

STRONG and its component bills are endorsed by too many veterans service organizations and health organizations to list, but, Madam Speaker, let me leave you with these words from Andrew Marshall, National Commander of Disabled American Veterans, ``There is simply no greater or more urgent challenge within the veteran community right now than addressing mental health concerns and ensuring our Nation's heroes have access to the support they need to both prevent and mitigate crisis.

``DAV is pleased to support the STRONG Veterans Act, and we urge its swift passage and signing into law.''

In closing, Madam Speaker, Chairman Takano and I support this important piece of legislation, and we urge our colleagues to support H.R. 6411, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, again, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 6411, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6411, as amended, the Support The Resiliency of Our Nation's Great, STRONG, Veterans Act.

This bill would improve VA's mental health and suicide prevention strategies by doing a number of things. It would expand the Vet Center workforce, and it would also allow student veterans the opportunity to seek counseling at Vet Centers during what can be yet another stressful time in that period of transitioning into civilian life.

Additionally, the bill would allow family members of veterans who died by suicide to seek bereavement counseling at Vet Centers. This support, from counselors who know veterans and the challenges that their families often face, would be a valuable resource for those in mourning.

This bill would expand training, scholarship, and loan repayment programs for the VA mental health providers. It would direct a series of actions to improve the Veterans Crisis Line, including enhanced training and oversight. It would codify an existing VA program that reaches out to veterans in their first year out of the military to provide them with information about relevant resources.

This bill would require VA to conduct numerous studies with the goals of improving care for veterans with sleep disorders, refining inpatient care for veterans struggling with addiction, identifying treatments for veterans suffering from both mental health and substance use disorders, and assessing the possible secondary impacts PTSD and depression may have on veterans' families.

This bill is the product of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations between the Veterans Affairs' Committee leaders. I thank Chairman Takano for working with me to introduce this bill and move it forward today.

I thank Senate colleagues Chairman Tester and Ranking Member Moran for their work on this bill.

This bill contains many provisions that were in standalone bills introduced by many of our other Members, and I recognize them today. I send a particular thank-you to Dr. Murphy, Congressman Rouzer, and to two of my fellow committee members, veterans themselves, Dr. Miller- Meeks and Congressman Ellzey. Each of them spearheaded vital pieces of this legislation that will help veterans and their families thrive for years to come.

I encourage any veteran listening to this who is struggling and in need of support to contact the veterans hotline by calling 1-800-273- 8825 and pressing 1. Once again, that is 1-800-273-8825 and pressing 1. Or you can also get there by texting 838255. That is 838255. Or you can actually visit the Veterans Crisis Line at veteranscrisisline.net, all one word.

There is absolutely no shame in asking for help if you need it.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy), my good friend.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

First off, I say thank you to all the people who have worked on this important piece of legislation for the support that it is has received.

The important thing is that we get the care, treatment, and support for all the veterans who are considering suicide and the families who suffer from the fact that they have done it.

Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan bill, H.R. 4233, the Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act.

The issue to which I will speak is exceedingly personal to me and my district, as I represent close to 90,000 veterans, most of whom are or will be receiving benefits via the Post-9/11 GI Bill or the Montgomery GI Bill.

The transition from Active Duty to civilian life can be challenging for some of our servicemembers. It can be tremendously difficult for many of our servicemembers to return to education after sacrificing so much for our Nation abroad. This is especially true for older and nontraditional student veterans.

A few months ago, alongside Ranking Member Bost, I had the privilege of introducing the Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act. It passed out of the Veterans' Affairs Committee with a unanimous vote.

Our Nation's veterans represent the very best among us here in the United States, but many serve at great personal cost. A recent RAND study reported that 20 percent of veterans on the GI Bill experience feelings of depression or PTSD. That 20 percent amounts to over 170,000 veterans, which is almost double the number I mentioned previously of the veterans I represent in my district.

As one can imagine, serving as a member of our Armed Forces can be extremely stressful. Too often, we see the tragedy of our veterans losing their battle with mental health issues when returning from service. A very tragic and somber fact is that the VA currently estimates 18 veterans a day commit suicide. In fact, 46 percent of our military students report suicidal thoughts compared to only 6 percent of their nonmilitary peers.

If we can provide mental health services to assist just a single veteran who is struggling, then I believe it is our sworn duty to do so. We have the opportunity now with the Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act.

Education poses one of the most beneficial yet stressful areas of transition for our veterans. The intention of this bill is to aid more of our veterans who are readjusting to civilian lives while providing overdue access to vital mental health resources.

Helping veterans succeed in their education and civilian lives is one of the most important ways we can thank them for their service.

I have spoken with some of these student veterans. I have heard their stories. These student veterans have had to wait weeks to even months for a mental health appointment if their mental health crisis was not deemed urgent. Unfortunately, many of our veterans do not have the luxury of weeks or months to wait to see a mental health provider.

Furthermore, private mental health can be inaccessible for those not utilizing the benefits of the GI Bill. An average therapy session could cost between $60 to $120, with the higher end reaching over $250 per session. Even with health insurance, premiums often can be $50 per session.

The Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act would provide expanded counseling and mental health services to those student veterans through the VA's Readjustment Counseling Centers, known as vet centers.

Mr. Speaker, I am extremely honored and proud to sponsor this bill, and I am grateful to Ranking Member Bost for his support as an original cosponsor and to all of my Republican and Democratic colleagues who have come together to support this very critical bipartisan legislation.

I am also thankful to the Student Veterans of America for their support.

I ask all Members for bipartisan support.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in enthusiastic support of H.R. 6411, the Support The Resiliency of Our Nation's Great Veterans Act, commonly known as the STRONG Act.

I am proud that this legislation includes language from my bill, H.R. 4233, the Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act. I introduced this bill alongside Ranking Member Bost to aid veteran transition back to civilian life, especially for those looking to further their education.

Far too often, we see the tragedy of our selfless defenders losing their battle to mental health issues when returning from service. The intention of our provision is to aid more of our veterans who are readjusting to civilian lives by providing them with overdue access to vital mental health resources.

This is especially personal to my district, as I represent 89,000 veterans, many of whom are or will be receiving benefits via the Post- 9/11 GI Bill.

Regardless of which side of the aisle we sit on, we have an obligation to make sure that our counseling services are more accessible for our veterans, and I am glad that the STRONG Act focuses on this obligation.

My provision would expand counseling and mental health support to student veterans through the VA's readjustment counseling centers, also known as Vet Centers. These centers provide individual, group, marriage, and family counseling, as well as peer support opportunities for Active-Duty servicemembers, veterans, members of the National Guard and Reserve, and certain military family members. Vet Centers are community based, confidential, and free.

A recent RAND study shows that 20 percent of veterans on the GI Bill face feelings of depression from PTSD. That 20 percent amounts to over 170,000 veterans, double the number of veterans in my district.

Currently, the option of student veterans using school psychologists, in actuality, provides very little relief for our veterans. The director of policy and advocacy for the National Association of School Psychologists has reported that the national ratio of school psychologists to students is anywhere from 1 to 2,000 to 1 to 5,000.

I have heard personal stories from student veterans who have had to wait weeks or even months for a mental health appointment if their mental health crisis was not deemed in need of ``immediate attention.'' Unfortunately, many of our veterans do not have the luxury of weeks or months to see a mental health provider.

In addition, many of our universities' mental health counselors are actually not licensed professionals but, instead, graduate or doctoral students. Our veterans deserve better than this. They deserve the best healthcare from qualified professionals.

Helping students succeed in school and their civilian lives is one of the most important ways we can thank them for their service.

Tragically, the suicide rate among our veterans now is estimated to be anywhere from 17 to 22 suicides a day. Forty-six percent of military students

have reported suicidal thoughts, compared with only 6 percent of their nonmilitary peers.

If we can provide mental health services that are able to assist just a single veteran who is contemplating suicide to choose to live, I believe it is our sworn duty to do so. We have that opportunity now.

I am proud to support the STRONG Veterans Act, and I am very grateful to Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost for including my bill, the Student Veterans Counseling Center Eligibility Act. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6411 in support of our Nation's veterans.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6411, known as the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022.

As a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security, I care deeply about our veterans.

I offer my deepest gratitude to our Nation's troops and reservists, their families, and the 21.6 million veterans, including 29,126 in the 18th Congressional District of Texas that I proudly represent.

In Congress, I have sponsored many legislative proposals and co- sponsored well over 50 pieces of legislation that will positively benefit our veterans and their families.

Veterans with mental health diagnoses have a significantly elevated suicide risk. Suicide rates of veterans are at an all-time high, rising 25 percent in 2021 over the previous year. Veterans continue to have a 50 percent higher risk of suicide than their peers who have not served.

More than 80 percent of post-9/11 veterans say that the public does not understand the problems that veterans face when transitioning to civilian life.

Current resources to help the mental health of our veterans are inadequate. Our veterans need our support when transitioning back to civilian life.

The STRONG Veterans Act will:

Open eligibility for more student veterans at Vet Centers;

Expand culturally competent suicide prevention at VA for native veterans;

Significantly increase mental health staffing and training at VA medical centers and Vet Centers;

Further strengthen the Veterans Crisis Line;

Allow more veterans to benefit from engaging with peer specialists; and

Collect data for VA to guide expansion of inpatient mental health and substance use treatment.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 6411.