[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 199 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6288-H6289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1315
          STUDENT VETERANS COUNSELING CENTERS ELIGIBILITY ACT

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4233) to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish Vet 
Center readjustment counseling and related mental health services to 
veterans and members of the Armed Forces using certain educational 
assistance benefits.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4233

       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 ``Student Veterans Counseling 
     Centers Eligibility Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF VET CENTER SERVICES.

       (a) Veterans and Members Using Educational Assistance 
     Benefits.--Section 1712A of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``clauses (i) through (vi)'' both places it 
     appears and inserting ``clauses (i) through (vii)'';
       (2) by striking ``in clause (vii)'' both places it appears 
     and inserting ``in clause (viii)'';
       (3) in subsection (a)(1)(C)--
       (A) by redesignating clause (vii) as clause (viii); and
       (B) by inserting after clause (vi) the following new 
     clause:
       ``(vii) Any veteran or member of the Armed Forces pursuing 
     a course of education using covered educational assistance 
     benefits.''; and
       (4) in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(6) The term `covered educational assistance benefits' 
     means educational assistance benefits provided pursuant to--
       ``(A) chapters 30, 31, 32, or 33 of this title;
       ``(B) chapters 1606 or 1607 of title 10;
       ``(C) section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans 
     Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48; 38 
     U.S.C. 3001 note); or
       ``(D) section 8006 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 
     (Public Law 117-2; 38 U.S.C. 3001 note prec.).''.
       (b) GAO Report.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
     report assessing--
       (1) the mental health needs of veterans pursuing a course 
     of education using covered educational assistance benefits 
     (as defined in section 1712A(h)(6) of title 38, United States 
     Code, as added by subsection (a)); and
       (2) the efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
     address such mental health needs.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each 
will control 20 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on H.R. 4233.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4233, the Student 
Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act from Congressman Murphy.
  We all know that student veterans may face challenges as they begin 
this new phase of their lives following military service, and we want 
them to be able to seek and find support at vet centers.
  We also encourage VA to continue monitoring the need for increased 
funding, staffing, and resources for vet centers as a result of demand 
for these services.
  I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4233, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H6289]]

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4233, the Student 
Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act.
  This bill would allow student veterans to access readjustment 
counseling and peer support services at vet centers.
  Student veterans have unique needs and stressors. This bill would 
help them get the support they require to thrive in school and in their 
post-military lives.
  I am grateful to my good friend and committee colleague, Dr. Greg 
Murphy, for introducing this bill. I thank him for his leadership on 
behalf of student veterans, and I am confident this bill would benefit 
them for generations to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge every one of my colleagues to support H.R. 4233 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina 
(Mr. Murphy), the sponsor of this bill.
  Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
my bipartisan bill, H.R. 4233, the Student Veterans Counseling Centers 
Eligibility Act.
  The issue to which I will speak is exceedingly personal to me and my 
district, as I represent close to 90,000 veterans, most of whom are or 
will be receiving benefits via the Post-9/11 GI Bill or the Montgomery 
GI Bill.
  The transition from Active Duty to civilian life can be challenging 
for some of our servicemembers. It can be tremendously difficult for 
many of our servicemembers to return to education after sacrificing so 
much for our Nation abroad. This is especially true for older and 
nontraditional student veterans.
  A few months ago, alongside Ranking Member Bost, I had the privilege 
of introducing the Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act. 
It passed out of the Veterans' Affairs Committee with a unanimous vote.
  Our Nation's veterans represent the very best among us here in the 
United States, but many serve at great personal cost. A recent RAND 
study reported that 20 percent of veterans on the GI Bill experience 
feelings of depression or PTSD. That 20 percent amounts to over 170,000 
veterans, which is almost double the number I mentioned previously of 
the veterans I represent in my district.
  As one can imagine, serving as a member of our Armed Forces can be 
extremely stressful. Too often, we see the tragedy of our veterans 
losing their battle with mental health issues when returning from 
service. A very tragic and somber fact is that the VA currently 
estimates 18 veterans a day commit suicide. In fact, 46 percent of our 
military students report suicidal thoughts compared to only 6 percent 
of their nonmilitary peers.
  If we can provide mental health services to assist just a single 
veteran who is struggling, then I believe it is our sworn duty to do 
so. We have the opportunity now with the Student Veterans Counseling 
Centers Eligibility Act.
  Education poses one of the most beneficial yet stressful areas of 
transition for our veterans. The intention of this bill is to aid more 
of our veterans who are readjusting to civilian lives while providing 
overdue access to vital mental health resources.
  Helping veterans succeed in their education and civilian lives is one 
of the most important ways we can thank them for their service.
  I have spoken with some of these student veterans. I have heard their 
stories. These student veterans have had to wait weeks to even months 
for a mental health appointment if their mental health crisis was not 
deemed urgent. Unfortunately, many of our veterans do not have the 
luxury of weeks or months to wait to see a mental health provider.
  Furthermore, private mental health can be inaccessible for those not 
utilizing the benefits of the GI Bill. An average therapy session could 
cost between $60 to $120, with the higher end reaching over $250 per 
session. Even with health insurance, premiums often can be $50 per 
session.
  The Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act would provide 
expanded counseling and mental health services to those student 
veterans through the VA's Readjustment Counseling Centers, known as vet 
centers.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 
seconds.
  Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely honored and 
proud to sponsor this bill, and I am grateful to Ranking Member Bost 
for his support as an original cosponsor and to all of my Republican 
and Democratic colleagues who have come together to support this very 
critical bipartisan legislation.
  I am also thankful to the Student Veterans of America for their 
support.
  I ask all Members for bipartisan support.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support 
this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in 
passing H.R. 4233, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4233.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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