I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4231 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program 
to provide mental health services to certain veterans of Operation Endur-
ing Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 15, 2007 
Mr. KAGEN (for himself, Mr. SHULER, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. 
WAMP, Mr. TAYLOR, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. 
BLUMENAUER, Mr. MELANCON, Mr. SESTAK, Mr. CARNEY, Mr. HOLDEN, 
Mr. ELLISON, Ms. BERKLEY, Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. 
FILNER, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. BACA, Mr. BARROW, 
Mr. BRALEY of Iowa, Mr. DICKS, Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN, Mr. DON-
NELLY, 
Mr. 
HINCHEY, 
Mr. 
MCDERMOTT, 
Ms. 
TSONGAS, 
Mr. 
PERLMUTTER, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. ALTMIRE, and Mr. LARSON of Con-
necticut) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
a pilot program to provide mental health services to 
certain veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rural Veterans Health 
Care Access Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) One out of every six veterans who have re-
turned from serving in Operation Enduring Freedom 
or Operation Iraqi Freedom have diagnosable post- 
traumatic stress disorder. 
(2) The Department of Veterans Affairs and 
the Department of Defense face a shortfall of 
trained mental health professionals. 
(3) The demands placed on the Department of 
Veterans Affairs health care system exceed the ca-
pacity of that system to serve veterans. 
(4) Veterans who live in rural areas serviced by 
distant Department of Veterans Affairs facilities 
have no option other than excessive travel for diag-
nosis and long-term treatment. 
(5) The variety of mental ailments acquired 
during or as a result of deployment in a war zone 
frequently require long-term, intensive, and highly- 
personalized care. 
(6) The system of the Veterans Health Admin-
istration of the Department of Veterans Affairs in 
effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act for 
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providing long-term mental health care creates un-
necessary and unacceptable stress for veterans and 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(7) The long-term needs associated with mental 
health conditions require a positive change in the 
way the Department of Veterans Affairs provides 
mental health services. 
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH 
SERVICES TO CERTAIN VETERANS OF CON-
TINGENCY OPERATIONS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish and carry out a pilot program to 
provide mental health counseling to eligible veterans at fa-
cilities other than medical facilities of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
(b) ELIGIBLE VETERAN.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘eligible veteran’’ means a veteran who— 
(1) served on active duty in support of a contin-
gency operation, as that term is defined in section 
101(13) of title 10, United States Code; 
(2) is eligible to receive hospital care and med-
ical services under section 1710 of title 38, United 
States Code; 
(3) has been diagnosed with a mental health 
condition for which a certified mental health pro-
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vider has recommended the veteran receive mental 
health counseling; and 
(4) resides at least 30 miles from a medical fa-
cility of the Department of Veterans Affairs that 
employs a full-time mental health professional. 
(c) PROVISION OF VOUCHERS.— 
(1) VOUCHERS.— 
(A) SIX MONTH SUPPLY.—Under the pilot 
program established under subsection (a), upon 
the request of an eligible veteran, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall issue to the eligible 
veteran a six-month supply of vouchers that 
may be used to provide for full payment for 
counseling services provided by any mental 
health provider on the list established under 
paragraph (2). 
(B) ADDITIONAL VOUCHERS.—If a veteran 
receives a supply of vouchers under the pre-
ceding sentence and, not later than five months 
after receiving such vouchers requests an addi-
tional six-month supply of vouchers, the Sec-
retary may issue to the veteran an additional 
six-month supplies of vouchers, as the Secretary 
determines is appropriate. 
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