Rep. Nikki Budzinski Advocates for Expanded VA Mental Health Outreach for Veterans

VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act

• 🎯 HR 3863, the VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act, aims to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) outreach for mental health services.
• 💡 The bill clarifies the types and numbers of contact attempts the VA must make and requires reporting on effective contact methods and rates.
• 🤝 This bipartisan legislation is co-led by Congressman Chuck Edwards and has received endorsements from Disabled American Veterans, the American Psychiatric Association, and USAA.

Supporting Veterans' Invisible Wounds

• 🧠 The act addresses the issue of veterans being unaware of available support and care for the invisible wounds of war.
• 🚀 It ensures proactive outreach to veterans with mental health-related service-connected disabilities, connecting them with necessary care.
• ✅ The goal is to make navigating the VA system easier for veterans to access the mental health care they have earned.

Amendment and Funding

• 💰 An amendment in the nature of a substitute was offered to clarify the bill's provisions and was considered base text.
• 🏠 A further amendment was proposed to offset the legislation's cost using home loan fees.
• 📊 The amendment was confirmed to offset mandatory spending, addressing concerns about the deficit and debt.

Legislative Progress

• ✅ The amendment to HR 3863 was agreed to by the committee.
• 📈 Subsequently, the amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, was also agreed to.
• 🌟 The bill, HR 3863, as amended, was favorably reported to the House by the committee.