{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205230120/http://www.sinema.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=478279E4-064D-4EE2-ACEB-336366E894C8", "Sinema, Murphy Push for Better Mental Health Care for Veterans with Classified Experiences", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Sinema, Murphy Push for Better Mental Health Care for Veterans with Classified Experiences\nWASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA) introduced the Classified Veterans Access to Care Act. \u00a0 The legislation aims to prevent the estimated 22 veteran deaths resulting from suicide each day by ensuring that veterans with classified experiences have access to appropriate mental health care at the Department of Veterans Affairs. \u00a0Joining Representatives Sinema and Murphy in cosponsoring the bill are Representatives Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), Dan Benishek (R-MI), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HA), and Duncan Hunter (R-CA).\n\u00a0   Arizona Iraq Veteran Daniel Somers committed suicide in June 2013. \u00a0Somers had served two tours in Iraq and was diagnosed with both a traumatic brain injury and PTSD upon returning home. \u00a0Daniel's experiences in Iraq were classified and could not be discussed in a group setting, but the VA offered Somers only group therapy sessions \u2014 denying him effective mental health treatment. \u00a0The Classified Veterans Access to Care Act\u00a0ensures that veterans with classified experiences have appropriate access to mental health services from the Department of Veterans Affairs.\u00a0   \u00a0   \u201cNo one who returns home from serving our country should ever feel like she or he has nowhere to turn,\u201d said Sinema.\u00a0 \u201cOur bill offers a reasonable solution that ensures all veterans experiencing combat-related mental health wounds have appropriate access to comprehensive mental health care.\"    \u201cDaniel Somers\u2019 tragic suicide was made even more heartbreaking because the Department of Veterans Affairs failed in its mission to provide him with the best possible psychological care,\u201d said Rep. Tim Murphy, who serves as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve Medical Service Corps as a psychologist. \u201cWe owe it to Daniel and others who have sacrificed on our behalf to ensure the VA provides veterans with consistent, quality care in a setting they can trust. VA regulations shouldn\u2019t discriminate based on mission, and that\u2019s what this bill will address.\u201d\nThe Classified Veterans Access to Care Act ensures the VA's process identifies veterans with classified experiences and transitions them to individualized therapeutic treatment in an expedited fashion.\u00a0 The bill directs the Secretary of VA to include the opportunity, on the appropriate medical and benefits information and forms, for a veteran to indicate if he or she participated in a classified mission during military service. The legislation also directs the Secretary of the VA to develop and disseminate guidance to the necessary VHA personnel, including VA mental health professionals, to engage and direct individuals with classified experiences seeking mental health counseling to appropriate care settings.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://web.archive.org/web/20141205230120/http://www.sinema.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=478279E4-064D-4EE2-ACEB-336366E894C8"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8007511496543884, "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"}