[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S5803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6276. Mr. MORAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe)
and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle A of title VII, add the following:
SEC. 706. IMPROVEMENT OF TRANSITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH
SCREENINGS AND CARE FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES.
(a) Screenings.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure
that, for each member of the Armed Forces, including a member
of a reserve component thereof, not later than 180 days
before separation of such member from active duty, a mental
health screening is provided to such member as part of a
whole health screening.
(2) Conduct of screening.--The screening required under
paragraph (1) shall be conducted by a primary care physician.
(3) Elements of screening.--The screening required under
paragraph (1) shall include screening for, at a minimum, the
following:
(A) Depression.
(B) Anxiety.
(C) Traumatic brain injury.
(D) Post-traumatic stress disorder.
(E) Substance abuse.
(4) Treatment of annual assessment.--The provision of an
annual mental health assessment under section 1074n of title
10, United States Code, is not sufficient to fulfill the
requirement for a mental health screening under paragraph
(1).
(b) Transition of Care.--The Secretary shall implement the
requirements of Department of Defense Instruction 6490.10,
entitled ``Continuity of Behavioral Health Care for
Transferring and Transitioning Service Members'' and issued
on March 26, 2012, to ensure the receipt of uninterrupted
mental health care for members of the Armed Forces, including
members of the reserve components thereof, separating from
active duty.
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