National Guard and Reserve Mental Health Access Act of 2008

A bill to expand and improve mental health care and reintegration programs for members of the National Guard and Reserve, and for other purposes.

4/30/2008--Introduced.
National Guard and Reserve Mental Health Access Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Defense to:
(1) provide for the implementation of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program for members of the National Guard and reserves and their families required by section 582 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(2) report to the congressional defense committees on that Program's implementation. Directs the Secretary to carry out a joint psychological health program to:
(1) increase access to and the provision of psychological health care and related services for members of the National Guard following their deployment, and their families;
(2) improve coordination among DOD components in the provision of such care during members' transition from active duty to civilian life; and
(3) coordinate and oversee DOD efforts to assist members of the National Guard with mental illness and members with traumatic brain injury post-deployment. Requires the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to establish the National Guard Psychological Health Council. Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to jointly carry out:
(1) one or more pilot programs on the provision of mental health services to members of the National Guard and reserves, both before and after deployment, through telemental health technologies; and
(2) an outreach program intended to reduce the stigma, among members of the National Guard and reserves returning from deployment, and their families, associated with seeking and obtaining mental health services.


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Sponsor

• Sen. Edward Kennedy [D, MA]

Committees

• Senate Armed Services

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to S.2939

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by Senate		Voted on by House		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
April 30, 2008

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All Bill Actions

• Apr 30, 2008: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
• Apr 30, 2008: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3596)
• Introduced on Apr 30, 2008.

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Related Bills:

• H.R.6075

Related Issue Areas:

• War casualties
• Veterans' medical care
• Veterans
• Trauma care
• 30 more
• Telemedicine
• Telecommunication
• Psychologists
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• National Guard
• Military medicine
• Military dependents
• Mental illness
• Mental health services
• Medicine
• Medical care
• Iraq compilation
• Health policy
• Health planning
• Head injuries
• Families
• Executive reorganization
• Executive departments
• Department of Defense
• Congressional reporting requirements
• Congress and military policy
• Congress
• Community health services
• Brain
• Army
• Armed forces reserves
• Armed forces
• Air force
• Access to health care
• Defense policy

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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Blog Coverage

April 29, 2008 S. 2939, A bill to expand and improve mental health care and ...

S. 2939 would expand and improve mental health care and reintegration programs for members of the National Guard and Reserve.... Vote on This Bill: For | Against.

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April 29, 2008 Bill Action: Introduced: S. 2939: A bill to expand and improve ...

Edward Kennedy [D-MA] introduced S. 2939: A bill to expand and improve mental health care and reintegration programs for members of the National Guard and Reserve, and for other purposes. [This event matched these trackers: Active ...

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