Congressmen Don Bacon (NE-02), Jared Golden (ME-02), Jack Bergman (MI-01), and Tom Suozzi (NY-03) have introduced the Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act. The bill aims to formally review the federal government’s mental health programs for veterans and servicemembers transitioning to civilian life, with a focus on addressing ongoing issues related to accessibility.
Bacon said, “The transition to civilian life is one of the most vulnerable periods in a servicemember’s career. We must ensure our mental health screening tools are validated, effective, and connecting people to care. The Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act strengthens oversight, improves coordination between the Department of Defense and the VA, and helps ensure no servicemember falls through the cracks. I’m pleased to co-lead this bipartisan legislation with Rep. Golden on this important effort to better support our servicemembers and veterans.”
Golden commented on his own experience returning from military service: “When I came home from the Marines, I saw how important it is to have a strong support system in your corner. The VA is full of skilled public servants who do that work, but there’s only so much an individual employee can do about the fundamental gaps in service created by an imperfect system. I’m grateful for the partnership of Congressmen Bergman, Bacon and Suozzi in the effort to show VA leaders just how lacking the agency’s outreach, rural logistics, and staffing efforts have been.”
Bergman added, “I’ve seen firsthand how the transition from active duty to civilian life can be one of the most vulnerable periods in a servicemember’s career. We owe our men and women in uniform more than gratitude – we owe them accountability and results. The Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act ensures the Department of War and VA are working together effectively, eliminating gaps and duplication, and delivering real access to mental health care when it matters most. By requiring measurable standards, regular review, and transparency to Congress, this bill strengthens the transition process and helps ensure no Veteran falls through the cracks.”
Suozzi stated: “Too many veterans and service members fall through the cracks when transitioning from active duty to civilian life. We have to do better. It’s our responsibility as lawmakers and Americans to make sure that everyone who serves our country receives the healthcare, including mental healthcare, they deserve,” said Congressman Tom Suozzi. “It’s common sense to assess and improve veterans’ health services of all kinds as time goes on. This bipartisan bill does just that, and I’m glad to join my colleagues, Congressmen Golden, Bergman, and Bacon, who I also thank for their service. Never forget the vet!”
The proposed act would require a formal assessment by the Department of Defense-Veterans Affairs Joint Executive Committee (JEC) regarding how well current programs facilitate access to mental health services for veterans reentering civilian life.
This review would include a complete inventory of existing federal mental health programs along with metrics intended to identify inefficiencies or gaps in these offerings. A report detailing findings would be due within 180 days before both House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees.
Additionally, under this legislation JEC would be required to update its Joint Separation Health Assessment every two years; currently this process uses outdated methods which may not provide timely or specific enough data for policymakers.
Don Bacon has served as U.S. Representative for Nebraska’s 2nd District since 2017 after replacing Brad Ashford that year. He was born in Momence, Illinois in 1963 before moving later in life to Papillion; he graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BA in 1984 as well as from University of Phoenix.
