I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2699 

To improve the mental health care benefits available to members of the 

Armed Forces, to enhance counseling available to family members of 

members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 4, 2009 

Ms. GIFFORDS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ 

Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To improve the mental health care benefits available to members of the Armed Forces, to enhance counseling available to family members of members of the Armed Forces, 

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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Armed Forces Behav5 ioral Health Awareness Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 

2 WHO SERVE IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 

3 OR OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM FOR 

4 READJUSTMENT COUNSELING AND SERVICES 

5 THROUGH VET CENTERS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—A member of the Armed Forces, 

7 including the Reserve components, who is deployed in sup8 port of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi 

9 Freedom shall be eligible for readjustment counseling and 

10 related mental health services under section 1712A of title 

11 38, United States Code, through the centers for readjust12 ment counseling and related mental health services (com13 monly known as ‘‘Vet Centers’’) operated by the Secretary 

14 of Veterans Affairs under that section. 

15 (b) ELIGIBILITY.— 

16 (1) REGULATIONS.—Except as provided in 

17 paragraph (2), the eligibility of a member of the 

18 Armed Forces, including the Reserve components, 

19 for counseling and services under subsection (a) 

20 shall be subject to such regulations as the Secretary 

21 of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

22 shall jointly prescribe for purposes of this section. 

23 (2) DUTY STATUS.—The duty status of a mem24 ber may not have an effect on the eligibility of the 

25 member to receive counseling and services under 

26 subsection (a). 


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1 SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE 

2 PROVISION OF EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SERV3 ICES TO FAMILY MEMBERS OF MEMBERS OF 

4 THE ARMED FORCES. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 

6 carry out a program to award grants to nonprofit organi7 zations that provide emotional support services for family 

8 members of members of the Armed Forces, including the 

9 Reserve components. 

10 (b) AWARD OF GRANTS.— 

11 (1) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant 

12 under the program under this section, a nonprofit 

13 organization shall meet such criteria as the Sec14 retary shall establish for purposes of the program. 

15 (2) APPLICATION.—A nonprofit organization 

16 seeking a grant under the program shall submit to 

17 the Secretary an application for the grant in such 

18 form and manner as the Secretary shall specify for 

19 purposes of the program. 

20 (c) GRANTS.— 

21 (1) AMOUNT.—The amount of each grant 

22 awarded to a nonprofit organization under the pro23 gram under this section shall be such amount as the 

24 Secretary determines appropriate for purposes of the 

25 program. 


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1 (2) DURATION.—The duration of each grant 

2 awarded to a nonprofit organization shall be such 

3 period as the Secretary determines appropriate for 

4 purposes of the program. 

5 (d) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—Each nonprofit organi6 zation awarded a grant under the program under this sec7 tion shall use amounts under the grant to provide emo8 tional support services for family members of members of 

9 the Armed Forces, including the Reserve components, 

10 through certain programs as the Secretary shall specify 

11 in the grant. 

12 (e) FUNDING.—Amounts for grants under the pro13 gram under this section shall be derived from amounts au14 thorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense 

15 for military personnel. 

16 SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM TO ENHANCE AWARENESS OF 

17 POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. 

18 (a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of 

19 the Army shall carry out a pilot program to enhance 

20 awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder among mem21 bers of the Army. The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 

22 program in the following locations: 

23 (1) Fort Huachuca, Arizona. 

24 (2) Fort Carson, Colorado. 

25 (3) Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. 


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1 (b) ACTIVITIES.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the pilot 

3 program, the Secretary shall implement activities 

4 that— 

5 (A) for a member of the Army who will be 

6 deployed in support of a contingency operation, 

7 increase the understanding of— 

8 (i) the neurophysiological effects of 

9 stress and trauma associated with combat, 

10 including post-traumatic stress disorder; 

11 and 

12 (ii) the means of eliminating or miti13 gating such effects after returning from 

14 combat; 

15 (B) for a member of the Army deployed in 

16 support of a contingency operation, reinforce 

17 the information provided under subparagraph 

18 (A); 

19 (C) for a member of the Army who returns 

20 from being deployed in support of a contingency 

21 operation, assist the member in reintegrating 

22 into noncombat life; and 

23 (D) for the family of a member of the 

24 Army covered under this subsection, include 

25 training and assistance (including InternetVerDate Nov 24 2008 06:26 Jun 05, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2699.IH H2699

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1 based training and assistance) at each stage of 

2 deployment in order to assist the family and 

3 member in recognizing and addressing post4 traumatic stress disorder. 

5 (2) DEVELOPMENT OF ACTIVITIES.—In devel6 oping activities under this subsection, the Secretary 

7 shall consider methods to address stress and trauma 

8 used by other appropriate populations, including 

9 special operations forces and elite athlete commu10 nities. 

11 (c) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the 

12 pilot program for a period of three years. 

13 (d) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 

14 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

15 to Congress a report assessing the pilot program, includ16 ing the effectiveness of the activities under subsection (b). 

Æ 


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