Nikki Budzinski Pushes To Expand Mental Health Outreach For Veterans

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In a House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs markup meeting before the Congressional recess, Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) spoke about the need to provide better mental health outreach for veterans and help them navigate VA mental health care.

Transcript

00:00I now call up H.R. 3863, the VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act. The

00:08clerks shall report the bill. H.R. 3863. The bill was circulated in advance and

00:12pursuant to committee rules without objection. The first reading is dispensed

00:16with and the bill is open for amendment at any point. I now recognize

00:19Representative Bozinski for the purpose of offering an amendment in the nature of

00:23a substitute. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk. The clerks

00:26shall report the amendment in the nature of a substitute. I ask unanimous

00:30consent that further reading of the amendment in the nature of a substitute

00:33be dispensed with and I ask that it be considered base text for the purpose of

00:37this markup but without objection so order. I now recognize

00:41Representative Bozinski for her five minutes to speak in support of the

00:45amendment in the nature of a substitute. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My amendment

00:49clarifies the types and numbers of contact attempts VA must do and it

00:53requires VA to report on the most effective contact types and contract

00:58rates. I want to thank Congressman Chuck Edwards for co-leading on this bipartisan

01:03bill. I'm also grateful to have the support of the disabled American veterans,

01:08the American Psychiatric Association, and the USAA which have all endorsed this

01:14bill. As a member of this committee I've heard from veterans unaware of where to

01:18return for support and care for the invisible wombs of war. My bill HR 3863 the

01:25veteran the VA mental health outreach and engagement act would expand VA's outreach

01:30to veterans about mental health services. We must support our veterans and provide

01:36them with the knowledge and resources to prosper following their service to our

01:40nation. My bill would excuse me would ensure we are proactively reaching out to

01:46veterans with mental health related service connected disabilities and

01:50connecting them with the care that they need. Navigating the VA should never be a

01:55burden and this bipartisan legislation will help make it easier for veterans to

02:00get the mental health care that they've earned. I urge my colleagues to support

02:04this clarifying amendment and the bill as amended. Thank you and I yield back.

02:08The gentleman yields back. I now recognize myself in support of the amendment.

02:12Representative Bozinski bill would build on our work for by requiring VA to

02:16offer a mental health consult consultation to veterans who receive

02:21disability compensation for a mental health diagnosis. For a veteran dealing

02:26with mental health issues this this bill would unify the two sides of VA the

02:33benefit side and the health side. It makes sense for VA to check in on these

02:40veterans. I think representative I thank representative Berzynski for her

02:44proposal and do any other members wish to comment on the amendment and nature of

02:49substitute to HR 3863. Seeing none. Are there any amendments to the amendment in the

02:56nature of substitute for HR 3863. Mr. Chairman I have an amendment at the desk. I now

03:00recognize representative Bosinski to offer the amendment and this will report.

03:05Bosinski amendment number one amendment to the amendment. I ask unanimous consent that further

03:10reading of the amendment is dispensed with and without objection so ordered the

03:15gentlelady is recognized for five minutes. Explain her amendment. This

03:18amendment adds a pay for for this crucial legislation using the home loan fees

03:22offset. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. Thank you and I yield back.

03:26I recognize myself. The lady yields back and I recognize myself to speak on the

03:30amendment. I would like to thank my colleague from Illinois for her for this

03:35amendment which fully offsets that her legislation. I'm confident that my staff

03:39will work closely with yours to identify the ways to reduce the

03:43preliminary score of this legislation. Does any other members seek to make

03:48comment on the amendment? Mr. Sell. Mr. Chairman, just a clarifying question. This is

03:55mandatory spending. I just want to make sure that the offset offsets mandatory

04:03spending. Just to clarify. Because mandatory spending is where our deficit and debt are

04:12growing the most. Let me get an answer for you exactly. Yes it is. It's mandatory. Thank you. No,

04:20the offset is mandatory. The offset is mandatory. Okay, thank you. Other questions? Seeing none,

04:31the question now occurs on agreeing to the Bedinsky amendment in the amendment in the

04:35nature of a substitute for H.R. 3863. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed say no.

04:41In the opinion chair, the ayes have it and the amendment is agreed to. We will, without objection,

04:50the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Are there any further amendments to the

04:54amendment in the nature of a substitute for H.R. 3863? Hearing none. The question now

05:01occurs on agreeing to the amendment in the nature of a substitute for H.R. 3863 as amended. All those

05:07in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed say no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it,

05:13the amendment in the nature of a substitute is agreed to. The motion to reconsider is laid on the

05:20table. I now recognize Ranking Member Takano for a motion. Mr. Chairman, I move that H.R. 3863 as amended

05:28be favorably reported to the House. The question is on favorably reporting H.R. 3863 as amended to the

05:36full House. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion is

05:43agreed to and H.R. 3863 as amended is reported favorably to the House. The motion to reconsider is

05:52laid on the table. Ranking Member. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Rule 11, Clause 2, I give notice of

06:00intent to file Minority Supplemental Additional or Dissenting Views on H.R. 3400 as amended. And

06:06congratulations to my colleague, Ms. Bozinski. Without objection.

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