Expanding the Families of Veterans Access to Mental Health Services Act

Bill: 117-hr-5029
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
Introduced: 2021-08-13
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care coverage and access

Mental health

Military personnel and dependents

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-08-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Expanding the Families of Veterans Access to Mental Health Services Act</strong></p> <p>The bill expands eligibility for readjustment counseling and related mental health services, including through a Vet Center, to family members of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces who died by suicide.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5029 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 13, 2021 Mr. Rouzer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish Vet Center readjustment counseling and related mental health services to members of the families of members or veterans of the Armed Forces who died by suicide, and other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Expanding the Families of Veterans Access to Mental Health Services Act . 2. Eligibility for mental health services Section 1712A(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)(ii)— (A) in subclause (I), by striking and ; (B) in subclause (II), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (III) in the case of a veteran or member who died by suicide, to the degree that counseling furnished to such individual is found to aid in coping with the effects of such suicide. ; (2) in subparagraph (B)(i)(II)— (A) in item (aa), by striking or ; (B) in item (bb), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and (C) by adding at the end the following; (cc) coping with the effects of a suicide described in subclause (III) of such act. ; and (3) in subparagraph (C)(vii)— (A) in subclause (I), by striking or at the end; (B) in subclause (II), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (III) veteran or member of the Armed Forces who died by suicide. . 3. Effective date The amendments made by section 2 shall apply with respect to family members of a member or veteran who died by suicide before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act.