{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bipartisan-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-formally-review-mental-health-programs-for-servicemembers-and-veterans", "Golden, bipartisan colleagues introduce bill to formally review mental health programs for servicemembers and veterans", "2026-02-27", "2026", "2026-02", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), and Don Bacon (NE-02) have introduced the Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act, which would launch a formal review into the effectiveness of the federal government\u2019s mental health programs for veterans and transitioning servicemembers in an effort to address longstanding accessibility issues.\n\n\u201cWhen 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\u2019s only so much an individual employee can do about the fundamental gaps in service created by an imperfect system,\u201d Golden said. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for the partnership of Congressmen Bergman, Bacon and Suozzi in the effort to show VA leaders just how lacking the agency\u2019s outreach, rural logistics, and staffing efforts have been.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen firsthand how the transition from active duty to civilian life can be one of the most vulnerable periods in a servicemember\u2019s career. We owe our men and women in uniform more than gratitude - we owe them accountability and results,\u201d Bergman said. \u201cThe 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.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many veterans and service members fall through the cracks when transitioning from active duty to civilian life. We have to do better,\u201d Suozzi said. \u201cIt\u2019s our responsibility as lawmakers and Americans to make sure that everyone who serves our country receives the healthcare, including mental healthcare, they deserve,\u201d said Congressman Tom Suozzi. \u201cIt\u2019s common sense to assess and improve veterans\u2019 health services of all kinds as time goes on. This bipartisan bill does just that, and I\u2019m glad to join my colleagues, Congressmen Golden, Bergman, and Bacon, who I also thank for their service. Never forget the vet!\u201d\n\n\u201cThe transition to civilian life is one of the most vulnerable periods in a servicemember\u2019s career. We must ensure our mental health screening tools are validated, effective, and connecting people to care,\u201d Bacon said. \u201cThe 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\u2019m pleased to co-lead this bipartisan legislation with Rep. Golden on this important effort to better support our servicemembers and veterans.\u201d\n\nThe Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act would require the Department of Defense-Veterans Affairs Joint Executive Committee (JEC) to assess the effectiveness of their programs and processes in facilitating access to mental health services for veterans returning to civilian life.\n\nIncluded in JEC\u2019s review would be a complete inventory of the government\u2019s mental health programs, along with metrics, milestones and plans of actions to identify inefficiencies and gaps in programming. There would be a 180-day deadline to present the report to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees.\n\nThe legislation would also require the JEC to update its existing Joint Separation Health Assessment (SHA) every two years. The SHA currently uses an outdated process to infrequently catalog veterans\u2019 generalized health needs \u2014 an issue that forces policymakers to contend with data that isn\u2019t specific nor timely enough.\n\n\u201cThe American Legion is proud to support the Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act,\u201d Matthew Jabaut, chairman of the American Legion\u2019s National Legislative Commission said. \u201cOn behalf of our nearly 1.5 million members, we commend Representative Golden for advancing oversight-driven reforms that reinforce mental health support and help ensure no servicemember or veteran falls through the cracks.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are happy that Congressman Jared Golden continues to focus on mental health for our Service Members and Veterans,\u201d said Steve SanPedro, national legislative committee member and chief of staff for the Department of Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars. \u201cThese invisible injuries need to be addressed so these men and women can live a healthy life after service to their country.\u201d\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-28T06:05:12Z", "2026-04-28T06:07:17Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bipartisan-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-formally-review-mental-health-programs-for-servicemembers-and-veterans"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.455599907785654, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}