110 HR 1853 IH: Jose Medina Veterans Affairs Police U.S. House of Representatives 2007-03-29 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1853 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 29, 2007 Ms. Watson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that Department of Veterans Affairs police officers receive training to interact with visitors and patients at Department medical facilities who are suffering from mental illness.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Jose Medina Veterans Affairs Police Training Act of 2007.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)On September 30, 2006, there were an estimated 24,000,000 living veterans. (2)7.8 percent of the total estimated resident population of the United States and Puerto Rico are recipients, or potential recipients, of veterans’ benefits from the Federal Government. (3)For fiscal year 2008, it is estimated that there will be 5,800,000 veterans seeking medical care from the Federal Government, and that 2,800,000 veterans will receive compensation for service-related conditions. (4)These veterans may potentially seek medical assistance by directly contacting a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. (5)According to a 2003 study conducted by the United States Army, 15 to 20 percent of veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are showing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (in this Act referred to as PTSD). (6)Studies show that members of the reserve components are particularly vulnerable to PTSD, and females face a higher risk for PTSD than do males. (7)Approximately 20 to 25 percent of the women who served in Vietnam and in the Persian Gulf War developed PTSD, and psychologists are expecting figures to be at least as high for Operation Iraqi Freedom. (8)According to figures released by the Department of Defense, more than 1,000,000 American troops have served thus far in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some experts predict that the number eventually requiring mental health treatment could exceed 100,000.

3.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that while the United States is conducting combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Department of Veterans Affairs should better prepare its police force to interact with patients and visitors at Department medical facilities who suffer from mental illness.

4.

Training for Department of Veterans Affairs police officers to interact with individuals suffering from mental illness

(a)

Training for Department of Veterans Affairs police officers To interact with individuals suffering from mental illness

(1)

In general

Chapter 9 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

906.

Training for Department police officers to interact with individuals suffering from mental illness

The Secretary shall ensure that all Department police officers receive training on how to interact with visitors and patients at Department medical facilities who are suffering from, or who exhibit symptoms of, mental illness.

. (2)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 906. Training for Department police officers to interact with individuals suffering from mental illness. . (b)

Effective date

The Secretary shall implement section 906 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), not later than 8 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.