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Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act

USA115th CongressHR-918| House 
| Updated: 11/8/2017
Mike Coffman

Mike Coffman

Republican Representative

Colorado

Cosponsors (40)
Al Lawson (Democratic)David Loebsack (Democratic)Clay Higgins (Republican)Joseph P. Kennedy (Democratic)Peter T. King (Republican)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Derek Kilmer (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Edward R. Royce (Republican)Carol Shea-Porter (Democratic)Lynn Jenkins (Republican)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Niki Tsongas (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)David Young (Republican)Carlos Curbelo (Republican)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Elizabeth H. Esty (Democratic)Luke Messer (Republican)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Walter B. Jones (Republican)Patrick Meehan (Republican)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Ryan A. Costello (Republican)James A. Himes (Democratic)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Tulsi Gabbard (Democratic)Ruben J. Kihuen (Democratic)Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Republican)Beto O'Rourke (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Scott R. Tipton (Republican)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Jack Bergman (Republican)Vern Buchanan (Republican)

Health Subcommittee, Veterans' Affairs Committee, Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish to former members of the Armed Forces: (1) an initial mental health assessment; and (2) the mental health care services required to treat the member's urgent mental health care needs, including risk of suicide or harming others. A former member of the Armed Forces is an individual who: served in the active military, naval, or air service, was discharged or released under a condition less than honorable (except a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge), has applied for a character of service determination that has not yet been made, and is not otherwise eligible to enroll in the VA health care system by reason of such discharge or release; or while serving in the Armed Forces, was deployed in a theater of combat operations or an area at a time during which hostilities occurred in that area, participated in or experienced such combat operations or hostilities (including by controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle from a location other than such theater or area), or was the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment. The VA may provide such mental health care services at a non-VA facility if: (1) the receipt of mental health care services by an individual in VA facilities would be clinically inadvisable, or (2) VA facilities are not capable of furnishing such mental health care services to that individual economically because of geographical inaccessibility. The VA shall: (1) seek to ensure that such mental health care services are furnished in a therapeutically appropriate setting, and (2) provide referral services to assist former members who are not eligible for such VA services in obtaining services from non-VA sources. (Sec. 3) The VA shall establish a process by which an individual who was discharged from the Armed Forces can seek a VA determination as to whether the discharge was under a condition barring the individual from receiving a VA benefit. If the VA determines that the individual is so barred, the VA shall provide such individual with information regarding his or her ability to address such condition.

Bill Text Versions

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4 versions available

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Timeline
Feb 7, 2017
Introduced in House
Feb 7, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 3, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Mar 29, 2017
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 6, 2017
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
Jul 19, 2017
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 19, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 6, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 287.
Nov 6, 2017
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-390.
Nov 7, 2017
Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Nov 7, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8550-8553)
Nov 7, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 918.
Nov 7, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8550)
Nov 7, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8550)
Nov 7, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 8, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  • February 7, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • February 7, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 3, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • March 29, 2017
    Subcommittee Hearings Held.


  • April 6, 2017
    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .


  • July 19, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • July 19, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • November 6, 2017
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 287.


  • November 6, 2017
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-390.


  • November 7, 2017
    Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • November 7, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8550-8553)


  • November 7, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 918.


  • November 7, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8550)


  • November 7, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8550)


  • November 7, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • November 8, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • S 115-2548: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish mental health care to certain former members of the Armed Forces who are not otherwise eligible to receive such care, and for other purposes.
Assault and harassment offensesConflicts and warsCongressional oversightCrimes against womenCrime victimsGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care coverage and accessMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMental healthMilitary operations and strategyNational Guard and reservesSex offensesVeterans' medical care

Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act

USA115th CongressHR-918| House 
| Updated: 11/8/2017
Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish to former members of the Armed Forces: (1) an initial mental health assessment; and (2) the mental health care services required to treat the member's urgent mental health care needs, including risk of suicide or harming others. A former member of the Armed Forces is an individual who: served in the active military, naval, or air service, was discharged or released under a condition less than honorable (except a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge), has applied for a character of service determination that has not yet been made, and is not otherwise eligible to enroll in the VA health care system by reason of such discharge or release; or while serving in the Armed Forces, was deployed in a theater of combat operations or an area at a time during which hostilities occurred in that area, participated in or experienced such combat operations or hostilities (including by controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle from a location other than such theater or area), or was the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment. The VA may provide such mental health care services at a non-VA facility if: (1) the receipt of mental health care services by an individual in VA facilities would be clinically inadvisable, or (2) VA facilities are not capable of furnishing such mental health care services to that individual economically because of geographical inaccessibility. The VA shall: (1) seek to ensure that such mental health care services are furnished in a therapeutically appropriate setting, and (2) provide referral services to assist former members who are not eligible for such VA services in obtaining services from non-VA sources. (Sec. 3) The VA shall establish a process by which an individual who was discharged from the Armed Forces can seek a VA determination as to whether the discharge was under a condition barring the individual from receiving a VA benefit. If the VA determines that the individual is so barred, the VA shall provide such individual with information regarding his or her ability to address such condition.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Feb 7, 2017
Introduced in House
Feb 7, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 3, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Mar 29, 2017
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 6, 2017
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
Jul 19, 2017
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 19, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 6, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 287.
Nov 6, 2017
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-390.
Nov 7, 2017
Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Nov 7, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8550-8553)
Nov 7, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 918.
Nov 7, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8550)
Nov 7, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8550)
Nov 7, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 8, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  • February 7, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • February 7, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 3, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • March 29, 2017
    Subcommittee Hearings Held.


  • April 6, 2017
    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .


  • July 19, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • July 19, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • November 6, 2017
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 287.


  • November 6, 2017
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-390.


  • November 7, 2017
    Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • November 7, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8550-8553)


  • November 7, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 918.


  • November 7, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8550)


  • November 7, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8550)


  • November 7, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • November 8, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mike Coffman

Mike Coffman

Republican Representative

Colorado

Cosponsors (40)
Al Lawson (Democratic)David Loebsack (Democratic)Clay Higgins (Republican)Joseph P. Kennedy (Democratic)Peter T. King (Republican)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Derek Kilmer (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Edward R. Royce (Republican)Carol Shea-Porter (Democratic)Lynn Jenkins (Republican)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Niki Tsongas (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)David Young (Republican)Carlos Curbelo (Republican)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Elizabeth H. Esty (Democratic)Luke Messer (Republican)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Walter B. Jones (Republican)Patrick Meehan (Republican)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Ryan A. Costello (Republican)James A. Himes (Democratic)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Tulsi Gabbard (Democratic)Ruben J. Kihuen (Democratic)Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Republican)Beto O'Rourke (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Scott R. Tipton (Republican)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Jack Bergman (Republican)Vern Buchanan (Republican)

Health Subcommittee, Veterans' Affairs Committee, Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • S 115-2548: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish mental health care to certain former members of the Armed Forces who are not otherwise eligible to receive such care, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Assault and harassment offensesConflicts and warsCongressional oversightCrimes against womenCrime victimsGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care coverage and accessMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMental healthMilitary operations and strategyNational Guard and reservesSex offensesVeterans' medical care