National Guard and Reserve Mental Health Access Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6075
Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Patrick J. [D-RI-1]
Introduced: 2008-05-15 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Access to health care
Air force
Armed forces reserves
Army
Brain
Community health services
Congress
Congress and military policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Defense
Executive reorganization
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Head injuries
Health
Health planning
Iraq compilation
Mental health services
Mental illness
Military dependents
Military medicine
National Guard
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Psychologists
Science, Technology, Communications
Telemedicine
Trauma care
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' medical care
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: 
National Guard and Reserve Mental Health Access Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Defense to: (1) provide for the implementation of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program for members of the National Guard and reserves and their families required by section 582 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) report to the congressional defense committees on that Program's implementation.
 
Directs the Secretary to carry out a joint psychological health program to: (1) increase access to and the provision of psychological health care and related services for members of the National Guard following their deployment, and their families; (2) improve coordination among DOD components in the provision of such care during members' transition from active duty to civilian life; and (3) coordinate and oversee DOD efforts to assist members of the National Guard with mental illness and members with traumatic brain injury post-deployment.
 
Requires the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to establish the National Guard Psychological Health Council.
 
Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to jointly carry out: (1) one or more pilot programs on the provision of mental health services to members of the National Guard and reserves, both before and after deployment, through telemental health technologies; and (2) an outreach program intended to reduce the stigma, among members of the National Guard and reserves returning from deployment, and their families, associated with seeking and obtaining mental health services.
 
Requires the Secretary, as part of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, to assign community outreach coordinators to assist members of the National Guard and reserves returning from deployment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: 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.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: 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.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: 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.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Introduced in House