Brownley Introduces Legislative Package to Support Veterans Healthcare and Improve VA Healthcare System

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Brownley (D-CA) announced the introduction of several veterans healthcare bills to ensure all veterans have access to a breadth of care, including culturally competent mental health services and dental care, at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. In addition, Congresswoman Brownley is seeking more transparency in VA's healthcare budget and improving the current VA medical facilities leasing process to properly access and meet the specific healthcare needs of our nation's veterans.

"As Chairwoman of the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, I understand that our veterans have unique healthcare needs that are not currently being addressed by VA's healthcare system. In introducing this series of bills, I hope to ensure that we direct adequate attention to those needs," said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. "I stand committed to working to ensure that all veterans have access to the services they are entitled to."

American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Mental Health Act

This bill would mandate that every VA medical facility have a minority veteran coordinator and that every minority veteran coordinator is trained in the delivery of culturally competent mental health care for Native veterans. The bill requires each facility's minority veteran coordinator to work with the facility's suicide prevention coordinator to contact local tribal leadership, provide the VA medical facility director with an annual written plan for specific outreach to Native veterans, and document the mental health care provided. It also requires VA to collect and provide data on the minority status, tribal enrollment, and second language capacity of VA mental health care providers.

"As Chairwoman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, my top priority is ensuring that VA is providing equity in access to comprehensive, high quality care, especially to our most vulnerable veterans," said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. "For hundreds of years, Native Americans have fought to defend our nation. In fact, American Indian and Alaska Native people serve in the U.S. Armed Services at a higher rate than any other group. It's time that we provide them with culturally appropriate mental health care and suicide prevention services as a part of the holistic care that Native veterans should receive from VA.

"We must work to immediately ensure that Congress and VA give appropriate attention to the issue of suicide and provide adequate support for all veterans struggling with mental health issues."

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