[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 483 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 483

  Recognizing the importance and effectiveness of veteran-to-veteran 
                         sponsorship programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 10, 2019

   Mr. Gallagher (for himself and Mr. Kind) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the importance and effectiveness of veteran-to-veteran 
                         sponsorship programs.

Whereas approximately 200,000 veterans discharge from the military every year, 
        many experiencing difficulty transitioning from active duty to civilian 
        life;
Whereas many veterans experience a heightened risk for depression, isolation, 
        post-traumatic stress disorder, confusion, or suicidal ideation during 
        the transition period;
Whereas evidence-based practices such as veteran-to-veteran peer support have 
        proven to be effective in easing the transition to civilian life;
Whereas the National Alliance on Mental Illness has recognized that veteran-to-
        veteran counseling increases self-esteem, social functioning, and life 
        satisfaction;
Whereas the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        has recognized that veteran-to-veteran counseling improves social 
        functioning, quality of life, independence, ability to deal with mental 
        illness, communication skills, employment outcomes, and the 
        effectiveness of the mental health delivery system;
Whereas peer-to-peer veteran sponsorship programs help establish a welcoming 
        environment that is more conducive for a positive transition to civilian 
        life;
Whereas veteran-to-veteran sponsorship programs are not an intervention, but a 
        guiding hand to assist veterans;
Whereas the Federal Government can aid in mitigating emotional, physical, and 
        social challenges for veterans struggling with transition through 
        support for veteran-to-veteran sponsorship programs; and
Whereas veteran-to-veteran sponsorship programs have been established in 
        communities in Northeastern Wisconsin and throughout the State, by a 
        variety of entities including--

    (1) Brown County, Wisconsin, which hosts the Northeast Wisconsin 
Battalion, one of the first veteran-to-veteran sponsorship programs of its 
kind in the State;

    (2) the 72 County Veterans Service Officers serving every county of 
Wisconsin, and 11 Tribal Veterans Service Officers serving Native American 
veterans, who are examples of veterans helping veterans;

    (3) La Crosse, Wisconsin, home to the La Crosse Area Veterans Mentor 
Program (LAVMP) which offers peer-to-peer mentorship and support for 
veterans struggling with substance abuse, homelessness, and social 
reintegration, offering support through Veterans Treatment Courts, a 
Veteran Community Health Worker, Peer Support Specialists, and initiating a 
Peer Advisory for Veteran Education program at Western Technical College;

    (4) the Department of Veterans Affairs, which offers a transition 
specialist program, acknowledging the necessity of assisting veterans 
transition to civilian life;

    (5) Outagamie County, Wisconsin, which is home to a veteran-focused 
nonprofit, Veterans' Mentor Group, to support other veterans, recruit new 
veteran mentors, provide training and coordinate with the Veterans 
Treatment Court Coordinator, in addition to being a resource for other 
veterans from within the community who may find themselves in need;

    (6) the military, which offers transition assistance programs to assist 
veterans with the transition to civilian life;

    (7) the University of Wisconsin System, which offers Vets for Vets, a 
student organization of veterans for veterans to assist with counseling and 
benefit information;

    (8) the University of Wisconsin Madison, which offers Peer Advisory for 
Veteran Education (PAVE), a peer-to-peer advising program that helps 
student veterans connect with other veterans, transition to college, and 
meet their personal and academic goals; and

    (9) the Fox Valley Technical College, as well as many University of 
Wisconsin campuses, which offer Student Veterans of America Chapters which 
are student-based mentoring programs: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the importance, effectiveness, and need for 
        veteran-to-veteran sponsorship programs among existing programs 
        and agencies of the Federal Government; and
            (2) encourages the use and practice of veteran to-veteran 
        programs within the Federal Government and Congress.
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