The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee considered several bills that included measures on mental health and improving women’s health care, matching a similar House push, Military.com reported Thursday.
The Senate mental health bill would create grants for outside mental health organizations, require access to alternative animal and sports therapies, and increase the number of VA mental health providers. It also would require VA to track progress on its national suicide plan, and expand telehealth services.
The women’s health bills would increase VA counselors for female veterans, increase coverage for maternity care, and expand the number of female health care providers.
The bipartisan bills have widespread support.
In the House, Veteran’s Affairs Committee lawmakers passed a number of their own mental health bills, including addressing veterans suicide, Military Times reported.
“The sad statistic shows after the 20 veterans and military service members who die by suicide, 14 of those 20 have not received VA health care,” Chairman Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) said. “This is one step toward changing this tragic number.”
One measure would expand counseling at community-based veterans centers. Another measure would require the VA to provide a report to lawmakers when a veteran commits suicide at VA facilities in their districts.