[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15491]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             NDAA/MEPS ACT

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today Congress returns to 
session with little time to complete business on a range of important 
matters, which is why I am calling on the Senate to take swift action 
on the National Defense Authorization Act.
  The NDAA, which passed the House in May, authorizes policy for the 
Pentagon, and this year included reforms to ensure our troops are more 
adequately trained and equipped, both mentally and physically.
  A recent Army study found that nearly half the soldiers who reported 
suicide attempts indicated their first attempt was prior to enlistment. 
And I am proud to say the House version of the NDAA includes provisions 
identical to the Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act, or 
MEPS Act, that I introduced earlier in the year. That will help address 
this challenge.
  The MEPS Act enables the Pentagon to establish a baseline to properly 
track changes in the servicemembers' behavioral health by instituting a 
requirement that all incoming troops undergo a mental health assessment 
upon enlistment.
  It is time for the Senate to act on this bipartisan legislation that 
has the support of over 40 veterans' and military advocacy groups.

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