COPE Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3581) to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the family caregiver program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to include services related to mental health and neurological disorders, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3581, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3581, as amended, the Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement Act, or COPE Act.

Representative Kiggans' COPE Act would allow for grant awards expanding access to mental health counseling, treatment, or support to caregivers of veterans participating in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.

VA's caregiver program provides caregivers of seriously ill or injured veterans with resources and services to help them with the important role they play in their veterans' lives.

Becoming a veteran caregiver is a noble undertaking and caregivers often put their entire lives aside in pursuit of caring for their loved ones. Mental health support is an important component of the caregiver program, but too often caregivers are reluctant to seek care at VA.

Whether it is because of stigma, not wanting to take provider resources away from veteran care, or the fear that seeking mental health care may in some way jeopardize their standing as a caregiver, caregivers should have access to every option without barriers.

The 3-year pilot program the COPE Act would create would expand caregiver mental health access to outside of VA. Ensuring caregiver wellness is critical to ensuring the highest quality of care for the veterans caregivers serve.

This new pilot program is an important next step in continuing to meet caregiver needs. Representative Kiggans' bill would also allow VA to assist local and State authorities with funding help for the mitigation of flood risk on non-VA property that may be adjacent to VA facilities. Many VA medical facilities are at least 60 years old. Some of these facilities have, over the years and due to locations in low- lying areas, been subject to flooding that impact veteran and staff access or even threatens building function.

Flood preparedness is a prudent focus for all VA facilities that are historically at risk of flooding from storms or from water encroachment. It is important that VA has the means to work with local authorities on issues that impact the operation of its facilities.

Finally, this bill would require a review and report to Congress on the security environment at VA facilities. We know that crime has been increasing at VA campuses, and while VA claims it has reworked its policing structure and hired a record number of officers, our committee lacks the data needed for proper oversight.

Veterans and the staff that support them need to be confident that the facilities they use are safe places to receive care and seek benefits.

This review will go a long way toward identifying ways to enhance safety and improve security within the Veterans Administration buildings and campuses.

I thank Representatives Kiggans and Mace, both members of the committee,

for their work on the various elements of this bill and for their unwavering commitment to the veterans we serve.

Additionally, to maintain our commitment to fiscal responsibility, we have identified an offset and fully funded this bill to ensure the best possible outcome for our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3581, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans), an esteemed colleague, distinguished naval officer, and nurse practitioner.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement Act. Known as the COPE Act, this bill takes an important step toward providing mental health resources to those who care for our Nation's veterans. Specifically, this legislation would authorize the VA to provide grants to organizations that support family caregivers' mental health.

Caregivers play a critical role in the lives of older Americans, especially our veterans. As the only geriatric nurse practitioner in Congress, I have seen firsthand the positive impact caregivers have in the lives of the people they care for.

When I was practicing in clinic settings, I had countless conversations with the people who cared for my patients. I know that this genuinely rewarding role comes with immense emotional challenges, as well. These dedicated individuals frequently put aside their own needs to care for their loved ones and desperately need to have the resources at their disposal to effectively handle the stress of taking on such a role.

By ensuring veteran caregivers can properly take care of their mental health, the COPE Act will improve the lives of our Nation's heroes and solidify the support system they need to age with dignity. The VA offers so many great benefits and programs, unfortunately navigating the wide range of these benefits and programs is so complicated that many are unaware that they might qualify for them or that these services even exist at all.

My legislation also seeks to fix this problem by requiring the VA to reach out to eligible veteran caregivers and make them aware of the mental health benefits available to them.

I am very proud that another bipartisan bill of mine, the VA Medical Center Security Reporting Act, is included in this version of the COPE Act that is being considered today.

From 2018 to 2021, violent crimes at VA medical center campuses more than doubled from 3,141 to 6,505.

There is a significant lack of important statistics and information relevant to crime and safety on VA campuses, including the vacancy rate for VA police departments, availability of issued equipment, and recommendations to address and reduce criminal activity at medical centers.

By ensuring these statistics are properly reported, my legislation will equip us with the information we need to address the increasing crime at VA medical centers, support our law enforcement officers, and provide veterans with a safe environment to receive the quality healthcare they have earned and deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I am the granddaughter of a veteran, the daughter of a veteran, the wife of a veteran, and the mother of future veterans, and I served 10 years myself in the Navy as a helicopter pilot. I am also blessed to represent one of the largest veteran populations in the country in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Improving the lives of our Nation's heroes is and always will be one of my top priorities in Congress, and this bill helps to do just that.

In closing, I thank Chairman Bost for moving this legislation through the Veterans' Affairs Committee as well as my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, Representative Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Pappas, who joined me in introducing these important bills.

I am confident that with the passage of this legislation, we as a country will move closer to fulfilling our promise to provide for America's veteran population and those who care for them.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the COPE Act.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3581, as amended, the Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement Act, or COPE Act.

This legislation, as amended, incorporates three Republican-sponsored bills, which were marked up at the subcommittee and full committee level over the summer.

First, H.R. 3581 would create a 3-year, $50 million per year grant program to award grants to entities that will provide mental health counseling, treatment, or support to caregivers participating in VA's family caregiver program.

The VA would also be required to provide outreach to caregivers to inform them of available mental health support offered by grantees. The legislation also requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study to assess the availability and accessibility of mental health support for veterans' caregivers.

Additionally, H.R. 3581, as amended, will authorize VA to contribute to local authorities to mitigate the risk of flooding on local property adjacent to VA medical facilities. It would also authorize up to $125 million over 5 years for VA to carry out flood mitigation improvements.

Currently, the statute only allows VA to contribute to local authorities for improvements needed for safe ingress or egress; however, veterans' access to healthcare is frequently disrupted in areas that experience frequent flooding, and VA's ability to partner with local authorities on flood mitigation projects has been limited.

This legislation would also require VA to submit to Congress a report assessing the extent to which each of its medical facilities is at risk of flooding, including flooding associated with rising sea levels.

Finally, H.R. 3581, as amended, will establish a 5-year survey program to examine security and criminal activity at VA facilities, staffing of VA's police departments, and the availability and adequacy of VA police equipment and training.

After surveying all facilities, VA will be required to submit annual reports to Congress summarizing the survey results and providing action plans for addressing any identified weaknesses.

While I support the policy ideas in H.R. 3581, as amended, I know our colleagues in the Senate would like to make some changes to this legislation before it can be enacted. Just last Friday, House committee staff met with their Senate counterparts to discuss changes to the VA security reporting provisions.

Senate staff also have proposed broadening the report on VA medical facility flooding risks such that VA would be required to assess all of its mission-critical assets, including medical facilities, cemeteries, and regional offices, and their vulnerabilities to flooding, wildfire, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other disasters.

Therefore, similar to the other veterans bills we are considering on the floor today, we already know this legislation simply cannot be taken up and passed in the Senate, and future House action will be needed.

It would have been preferable if the majority had resolved these differences before bringing this bill to the floor. Nevertheless, I will support H.R. 3581, as amended, and encourage my colleagues to join me in passing it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 3581, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.