By: Farias, Guillen (Senate Sponsor - Rodríguez) H.C.R. No. 46
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2015;
May 7, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran
Affairs and Military Installations; May 21, 2015, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 21, 2015, sent
to printer.)
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
CampbellX
BurtonX
BirdwellX
GarciaX
HallX
LucioX
RodríguezX
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Citizens of the United States owe an incalculable
debt to the nation's military personnel, who have served so
valiantly and sacrificed so much in this country's 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.
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