[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 189 (Wednesday, October 27, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5940-H5942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REAL JUSTICE FOR OUR VETERANS ACT OF 2021

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 4035) to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
Streets Act of 1968 to prioritize veterans court treatment programs 
that ensure equal access for racial and ethnic minorities and women, 
and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4035

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Real Justice for Our 
     Veterans Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. EQUAL ACCESS TO VETERANS COURT TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR 
                   RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES AND WOMEN.

       Section 2991(i)(2) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
     Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10651(i)(2)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this subparagraph, the Attorney General shall 
     submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of veterans 
     treatment court programs. In preparing such a report, the 
     Attorney General shall conduct a national multi-site 
     evaluation of such programs, including an assessment of--
       ``(i) the population served by such programs;
       ``(ii) whether such programs use evidence-based treatments 
     for substance use and mental health, including medication for 
     addiction treatment;
       ``(iii) recidivism rates of participants in such programs;
       ``(iv) program completion rates; and
       ``(v) whether racial and ethnic minorities and women have 
     equal access to such programs and an equal opportunity to 
     complete such programs, including by collecting and analyzing 
     data related to admission in such programs and completion of 
     such programs, to ensure there are not disparities related to 
     race, ethnicity, or sex.''.

     SEC. 3. VETERANS PILOT PROGRAM ON PROMISING RETENTION MODELS.

       (a) Establishment.--The Attorney General, acting through 
     the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, shall carry 
     out a pilot program to make grants to eligible units of local 
     government to improve retention in veterans treatment court 
     programs (as such term is defined in section 2991 of the 
     Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 
     10651)) and drug court programs.
       (b) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible for a grant under 
     subsection (a), a unit of local government shall operate a 
     veterans treatment court program or a drug court.
       (c) Application.--A unit of local government seeking a 
     grant through the pilot program under subsection (a) shall 
     submit to the Attorney General an application at such time, 
     in such manner, and containing such information as the 
     Attorney General may reasonably require, including--
       (1) a description of the therapeutic or treatment modality 
     that the unit of local government plans to implement and data 
     to support the use of the therapeutic or treatment modality, 
     including information showing how the therapeutic or 
     treatment modality will promote retention in and completion 
     of veterans treatment court programs and drug court programs; 
     and
       (2) detailed plans on how the applicant would test the 
     efficacy of the therapeutic or treatment modality.
       (d) Reporting Metrics.--Not later than 180 days after 
     receiving a grant under subsection (a), a unit of local 
     government shall submit to the Attorney General a report, 
     which includes demographic information of participants in the 
     veterans treatment court program, and completion rates of 
     such participants. The Attorney General shall develop 
     guidelines for the report required under this subsection.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
     through 2027 to carry out this section.

     SEC. 4. ADMISSION OF VETERANS TO DRUG COURTS.

       In the case of a jurisdiction that does not operate a 
     veterans treatment court program (as such term is defined in 
     section 2991 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets 
     Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10651)), but that does operate a drug 
     court under part EE of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
     Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10611 et seq.), a veteran who 
     would be eligible to participate in a veterans treatment 
     court program may participate in the drug court, including a 
     veteran who is a violent offender (as such term is defined in 
     section 2953(a) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets 
     Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10613(a))).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am the proud sponsor and proud of H.R. 4035. The Real 
Justice for Our Veterans Act is before the House for consideration, and 
I ask all my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill today.
  I authored the Real Justice for Our Veterans Act to help our Nation's 
justice-involved veterans to improve the delivery of services in 
veterans and drug courts. The bill before the House today has three 
discrete aims.
  First, the bill would expand data collection regarding the 
effectiveness of veterans courts.
  Second, it authorizes a pilot program that would investigate and 
promote promising retention models in veterans and drug courts.
  Lastly, and perhaps most critically, it would open up drug treatment 
courts to veterans in areas where there may not be a veterans court, so 
very important for those who have interacted with our committee and 
have made note of the fact that there are many jurisdictions in the 
United States where there are veterans and no veterans court.
  Each of these critical changes would promote higher participation and 
higher rehabilitation of veterans who have mental health and substance 
abuse issues.
  The need for this legislation is painfully clear. Generations of 
veterans have served abroad in recent decades, and we must redouble our 
efforts to support veterans and expand the services they need to 
thrive.
  The rapid expansion of veterans treatment courts speaks not only to 
the need for such courts but, more importantly, to the benefit of the 
specialized approach to rehabilitation and treatment the courts offer.
  The holistic treatment model, which includes input from the 
prosecutor, defense counsel, and the court, centers on the supervised 
comprehensive treatment provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
or community organizations.
  Because each veterans court offers different management services, we 
need to do more to identify which treatment options are successful so 
that these promising models can be expanded. That is why the elements 
of the Real Justice for Our Veterans Act are so important.
  The bill also calls for additional data on the demographics of who is 
referred to veterans treatment courts and asks for information on 
completion rates. This information will be critical to advancing our 
understanding of how the programs are used.
  Additionally, the legislation authorizes a new pilot program that 
will allow DOJ to test promising retention programs that promote 
greater enrollment and participation by veterans through the duration 
of their treatment program.

                              {time}  1245

  Legislative efforts to strengthen veterans treatment courts have 
yielded bipartisan support in the past, and the same is true today.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Rutherford), for cosponsoring the bill and working with me in this 
effort.
  I urge my colleagues to take a look at their congressional districts. 
You will probably find places of refuge for our veterans; some may be 
homeless. I have several facilities in my congressional district that 
deal with the housing of homeless veterans, or deal with services for 
homeless veterans, or deal with services, period, for veterans.
  I can assure you that a comforting judicial system on veterans who, 
because of combat injuries, PTSD, and

[[Page H5941]]

other issues dealing with them, losing their family, being separated 
from the family, being miles away from their home because of combat-
impacted injuries, that the judicial system is one they may come in 
contact with.
  To be able to have courts that are responsive to their service and 
their record, and to be able to help move them away from the judicial 
system is a tribute to our commitment to the service of our men and 
women.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to continue this record of support 
for veterans treatment courts by voting for this bill today.
   I am proud that H.R. 4035, the ``Real Justice for Our Veterans Act'' 
is before the House for consideration and I ask all my colleagues to 
support this bipartisan bill today.
   I authored the Real Justice for Our Veterans Act to help our 
nation's justice-involved veterans and to improve the delivery of 
services in veterans and drug courts.
   The bill before the House today has three discrete aims.
   First, the bill would expand data collection regarding the 
effectiveness of veterans courts.
   Second, it authorizes a pilot program that would investigate and 
promote promising retention models in veterans and drug courts.
   And lastly, and perhaps most critically, it would open up drug 
treatment courts to veterans in areas where there may not be a veterans 
court.
   Each of these critical changes would promote higher participation 
and higher rehabilitation of veterans who have mental health and 
substance abuse issues.
   The need for this legislation is painfully clear. Generations of 
veterans have served abroad in recent decades and we must redouble our 
efforts to support veterans and expand the services they need to 
thrive.
   The rapid expansion of veterans treatment courts speaks not only to 
the need for such courts but more importantly to the benefit of the 
specialized approach to rehabilitation and treatment the courts offer.
   The wholistic treatment model, which includes input from the 
prosecutor, defense counsel, and the court, centers on the supervised 
comprehensive treatment provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
or community organizations.
   Because each veterans court offers different treatment services, we 
need to do more to identify which treatment options are successful so 
that these promising models can be expanded.
   That's why these elements of the ``Real Justice for Our Veterans 
Act'' are so important.
   The bill also calls for additional data collection on the 
demographics of who is referred to veterans treatment courts and asks 
for information on completion rates. This information will be critical 
to advancing our understanding of how the programs are used.
   Additionally, the legislation authorizes a new pilot program that 
will allow DOJ to test promising retention programs that promote 
greater enrollment and participation by veterans through the duration 
of their treatment program.
   Legislative efforts to strengthen veterans treatment courts have 
yielded bipartisan support in the past, and the same is true today.
   I thank our colleague, the gentleman from Florida, Representative 
John Rutherford, for cosponsoring this bill and working with me in this 
effort.
   I urge my colleagues to continue this record of support for veterans 
treatment courts by voting for this bill today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4035, the Real Justice for Our 
Veterans Act of 2021.
  Unfortunately, many of our Nation's veterans suffer from substance 
abuse disorders, mental health conditions, and trauma. According to 
data from the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics, 
approximately 60 percent of combat veterans in our Nation's prisons 
have reported mental health disorders.
  Veterans treatment court programs are modeled after other specialized 
treatment court programs, such as drug treatment courts to provide 
services specific to meet the unique needs of veterans. Veterans 
treatment courts are not only designed to benefit veterans in the 
criminal justice system, but taxpayers as well.
  These treatment programs lower recidivism for participants who 
complete them, saving money that otherwise would have been spent on 
incarceration.
  H.R. 4035 will expand data collection on these treatment programs to 
ensure that our veterans are getting the most effective treatment 
possible.
  H.R. 4035 also authorizes pilot programs to make grants to improve 
retention rates in veterans treatment court programs. It allows 
veterans in jurisdictions that do not operate veterans court programs 
to participate in drug courts instead.
  Congress must do everything in its power to protect our Nation's 
veterans and ensure that they get the very best treatment. This is 
exactly what this bill does.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  MR. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is 
remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Texas has 16 minutes 
remaining.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this has been a journey for me in terms of dealing with 
veterans who are in need of help.
  Some years ago, I joined with the late and former member of the 
military, Chairman Murtha, to bring a satellite site to my 
congressional district for post-traumatic stress disorder. The center 
was outside of the veterans hospital but could be accessed by veterans 
through TRICARE.
  So I have seen the needs of veterans who have experienced the impact 
of combat, the impact of the service, but are still committed to duty. 
This particular legislation responds and respects that duty. That is 
the duty that we owe to those who have fallen along the highway of 
challenges.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure that we have the treatment for those 
who have experienced substance abuse, as well as that we have the 
judicial system that responds to that need. It may cross the gamut of 
substance abuse, alcohol abuse, and of course, encounters with the 
criminal justice system.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Nadler of the Judiciary 
Committee. And I thank members of the Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland 
Security Subcommittee because it shows that our work is expansive. It 
includes rehabilitation and treatment and fairness and justice. Finding 
ways to have people steer away from incarceration and, of course, 
encounters over and over again with the judicial system or the criminal 
justice system.
  So veterans treatment court programs around the country have 
successfully provided support to veterans struggling with substance 
abuse or mental health issues. We have seen them work effectively. The 
need to expand veterans treatment court services is real and immediate.
  We look forward to this bill moving in the other body and the 
President of the United States signing it, saying to veterans, we want 
to be helpful to you in your time of celebration of who you are as a 
veteran, but also in your time of need.
  Based on the most recent data, the Bureau of Justice Statistics 
estimates that approximately 181,500 veterans are incarcerated in jail 
as well as State and Federal prisons. Mr. Speaker, that is too many who 
have been lost to the abusing of drugs, alcohol, and substance abuse.
  H.R. 4035 would help rehabilitate justice-involved veterans and 
ultimately make for a safer community and give them a better quality of 
life; and might I say, give their families a better quality of life.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of 
this important bill.
  Mr. Speaker, veterans treatment court programs around the country 
have successfully provided support to veterans struggling with 
substance abuse or mental health issues.
  The need to expand veterans treatment court services is real and 
immediate.
  Based on the most recent data, the Bureau of Justice Statistics 
estimates that approximately 181,500 veterans are incarcerated in jails 
as well as state and federal prisons.
  H.R. 4035 would help rehabilitate justice-involved veterans and 
ultimately make for safer communities.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this important 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H5942]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4035, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________