I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 785 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program 

to provide outreach and training to certain college and university mental 

health centers relating to the mental health of veterans of Operation 

Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 28, 2009 

Ms. TSONGAS (for herself and Mr. MICHAUD) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 

a pilot program to provide outreach and training to 

certain college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of veterans of Operation Iraqi 

Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
2 

•HR 785 IH

1 SECTION 1. PILOT PROGRAM ON OUTREACH AND TRAIN2 ING RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH OF VET3 ERANS OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND 

4 OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. 

5 (a) PILOT PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Veterans Af6 fairs shall carry out a four-year pilot program under which 

7 the Secretary shall provide covered services to covered 

8 mental health centers. 

9 (b) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this Act: 

10 (1) The term ‘‘covered mental health center’’ 

11 means a counseling center, student health or 

12 wellness center, or student services center at a col13 lege or university with a large enrollment of veterans 

14 of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 

15 Freedom, as determined by the Secretary. 

16 (2) The term ‘‘covered services’’ means out17 reach and training services related to the mental 

18 health of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and 

19 Operation Enduring Freedom. Such services shall 

20 include— 

21 (A) training for clinicians on treatment for 

22 mental illnesses commonly experienced by such 

23 veterans; 

24 (B) training on providing assistance to 

25 such veterans in accessing mental health care 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
3 

•HR 785 IH

1 and services available through the Department 

2 of Veterans Affairs; 

3 (C) training for administrative staff who 

4 interact with such veterans relating to crisis 

5 management and other relevant skills; 

6 (D) training of peer counselors on con7 ducting support groups for such veterans; and 

8 (E) any other service the Secretary deter9 mines is necessary or appropriate. 

10 (c) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than two 

11 years after the date of the enactment of this Act and not 

12 later than 30 days after the last day of the pilot program 

13 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Con14 gress a report on the pilot program. Each such report 

15 shall include— 

16 (1) the names of the colleges and universities at 

17 which the Secretary is carrying out the pilot pro18 gram; 

19 (2) the number of veterans of Operation Iraqi 

20 Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom enrolled 

21 at each such college or university; 

22 (3) a description of the services carried out by 

23 the Secretary under the pilot program; 

24 (4) an assessment of the effectiveness of the 

25 pilot program; and 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
4 

•HR 785 IH

1 (5) the recommendations of the Secretary with 

2 respect to the extension or expansion of the pilot 

3 program. 

4 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

5 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 

6 $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2013. 

Æ 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS