WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today said that he has cosponsored legislation that will improve treatment for veterans and service members who have incurred mental injuries, better prepare them for stress associated with combat as well as their return home, and increase care for military families.
The “Honoring Our Nation’s Obligation to Returning Warriors Act” was sponsored by Senators Kit Bond of Missouri. Grassley is an original cosponsor of the legislation.
“We’re seeing more and more injuries from our returning heroes that may not be visible. These injuries are no less traumatic for our service members,” Grassley said. “This bill takes some necessary steps to better address the mental stresses incurred by these brave men and women.”
Here are specific provisions of the HONOR Act.
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Improves Access to Care by Expanding the Use of Vet Centers
Gives active, Guard and Reserve U.S. Military personnel who have served in combat access to the VA’s Vet Centers for mental health care services.
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Ensures Fair Treatment and Care for all U.S. Military Personnel
Allows service members who may have been improperly discharged due to behaviors related to mental health issues to present their records to the VA for screening. If the VA finds the veteran to have been improperly diagnosed, they may provide referral services to assist such an individual, to the maximum extent practicable, in obtaining mental health care and services from sources outside the VA and advice about how to have their discharge re-evaluated by the Defense Department.
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Extends Survivor Benefits for Military Families
Extends the Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and the Survivor Benefits Plan (SBP) to families of former Service Members whose death is directly related to a medical history of PTSD or a Traumatic Brain Injury in connection to active duty service in a theater of combat.
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Enhances Recruitment and Training of Military Behavioral Health Professionals
Creates a scholarship program to enhance the recruitment and training of behavioral health care specialists from the service member ranks.
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Enhances Recruitment and Training of Prior-Service Combat Veterans as Civilian Professional Psychiatric Technicians and Nurses
Creates a training program similar to the Military Services Enlisted Mental Health Specialist Courses which will help the military meet the immediate need for PTSD counselors.
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Prepare Troops for Combat and Prepare Veterans for Life as Civilians
Requires the Defense Department and the VA to conduct a joint review and report to Congress no later than 18 months after the enactment of the HONOR Act and a joint annual review and report thereafter to determine the effectiveness of Re-Integration Programs that provide mental health resiliency training and transition counseling for service members and their families when they separate or retire from the service.
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