Supporting Hillsborough County Veterans Treatment Court

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Hillsborough County Veterans Treatment Court and the volunteers who are the heart of this program.

Hillsborough County is proud to be home to Florida's largest population of veterans--nearly 94,000 veterans. Hillsborough is also home to the number one Veterans Treatment Court in the country.

One in five veterans has a diagnosed mental illness or cognitive impairment, and one in six veterans has a substance abuse problem. In some cases, upon returning home, these men and women commit a criminal offense that is directly attributed to a service or combat-related injury.

The Hillsborough County Veterans Treatment Court, in addition to its Mentor Program run entirely by volunteers, integrates alcohol and drug treatment programs, mental health services, and justice system case processing, while focusing on the successful reintegration of veterans back into their communities.

I'd like to not only recognize but extend a sincere thank you to the wonderful volunteers who have had a hand in getting our veterans the care they require and deserve.

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