BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.C.R. 46 84R21524 JNC-D By: Farias; Guillen (Rodrguez) Veteran Affairs & Military Installations 5/15/2015 Engrossed
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.C.R. 46
84R21524 JNC-D By: Farias; Guillen (Rodrguez)
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
5/15/2015
Engrossed
Senate Research Center
H.C.R. 46
84R21524 JNC-D
By: Farias; Guillen (Rodrguez)
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
5/15/2015
Engrossed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT WHEREAS, Citizens of the United States owe an incalculable debt to the nations military personnel, who have served so valiantly and sacrificed so much in this countrys behalf; and WHEREAS, The current U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs policy of suspending hospital and outpatient care services to incarcerated veterans is especially detrimental to those individuals in need of mental health care; some of these men and women are committed to the state hospitals awaiting restoration of competency in order to stand trial, and the scarcity of timely access to services in these facilities can prolong their detention; and WHEREAS, Veterans suffer disproportionately from post-traumatic stress disorder, which is often worsened by incarceration and can lead to depression and suicidal thoughts and actions, and incarcerated veterans too often lack access to treatment for this condition; and WHEREAS, Improved coordination between the VA and state and local jurisdictions would enable eligible veterans to continue to receive mental health care and other VA services; in addition, VA reimbursement provided to secure mental health facilities for forensic beds and services would ensure better medical treatment for veterans and help alleviate the legal delays frequently experienced by incarcerated veterans with mental health issues; and WHEREAS, Veterans of the U.S. armed forces have earned the lasting gratitude of all Americans for their devotion to duty, and they are deserving of prompt and compassionate assistance in their time of need; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide VA services to veterans on forensic commitments at state hospitals; and, be it further RESOLVED, That Congress consider expanding such services to all incarcerated veterans; and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. RESOLVED That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide VA services to veterans on forensic commitments at state hospitals. That the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
WHEREAS, Citizens of the United States owe an incalculable debt to the nations military personnel, who have served so valiantly and sacrificed so much in this countrys behalf; and
WHEREAS, The current U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs policy of suspending hospital and outpatient care services to incarcerated veterans is especially detrimental to those individuals in need of mental health care; some of these men and women are committed to the state hospitals awaiting restoration of competency in order to stand trial, and the scarcity of timely access to services in these facilities can prolong their detention; and
WHEREAS, Veterans suffer disproportionately from post-traumatic stress disorder, which is often worsened by incarceration and can lead to depression and suicidal thoughts and actions, and incarcerated veterans too often lack access to treatment for this condition; and
WHEREAS, Improved coordination between the VA and state and local jurisdictions would enable eligible veterans to continue to receive mental health care and other VA services; in addition, VA reimbursement provided to secure mental health facilities for forensic beds and services would ensure better medical treatment for veterans and help alleviate the legal delays frequently experienced by incarcerated veterans with mental health issues; and
WHEREAS, Veterans of the U.S. armed forces have earned the lasting gratitude of all Americans for their devotion to duty, and they are deserving of prompt and compassionate assistance in their time of need; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide VA services to veterans on forensic commitments at state hospitals; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That Congress consider expanding such services to all incarcerated veterans; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.
RESOLVED
That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide VA services to veterans on forensic commitments at state hospitals.
That the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.