OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Vet Center Eligibility Expansion Act

Floor Speech

Date: May 21, 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans Health and Health Care

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Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1812, the Vet Center Eligibility Expansion Act.

Madam Speaker, I was proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my friend from Tennessee and ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Dr. Roe.

We must do more to address the epidemic of suicide among veterans in this country. We can start with ensuring all servicemembers have the mental health support they need.

Currently, most National Guard, Coast Guard, and Reserve servicemembers are precluded from receiving readjustment counseling services at vet centers. Guardsmen and Reservists often face emotionally challenging deployments to natural disasters, drug interdiction missions, national emergencies, or civil disorders that can have serious mental health consequences.

This bipartisan legislation is an important step in closing the mental healthcare gap for those servicemembers who compose four of the 20 veteran suicides we see each day in this country. As we continue to see veterans turn to suicide, often on the grounds of VA facilities, we must have an all-hands-on-deck approach, and this bill can play a critical role in this effort.

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