Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOST.

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

This bill would allow student veterans to access readjustment counseling and peer support services at vet centers.

Student veterans have unique needs and stressors. This bill would help them get the support they require to thrive in school and in their post-military lives.

I am grateful to my good friend and committee colleague, Dr. Greg Murphy, for introducing this bill. I thank him for his leadership on behalf of student veterans, and I am confident this bill would benefit them for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I urge every one of my colleagues to support H.R. 4233 today.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. 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. MURPHY of North Carolina. 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.

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

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