{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://carson.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/house-passes-carson-mental-health-bill", "House Passes Carson Mental Health Bill", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "IN", "Andr\u00e9 Carson", "C001072", "carson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2015, which included provisions authored by Congressman Carson to protect the mental health of deployed service members.\u00a0 The NDAA containing Congressman Carson\u2019s \u00a0provisions is expected to pass the Senate next week before making its way to the President\u2019s desk to become law.\nSpecifically, Congressman Carson\u2019s bill aims to provide mid-deployment assessments to detect and begin treatment of mental health issues that arise while overseas and could negatively impact performance or become life threatening.\u00a0 Currently, service members only receive mental health screening before and after deployment. The 2015 NDAA includes provisions from Carson\u2019s H.R. 1463, the Military Suicide Reduction Act, which was endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Association of the United States Navy, and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.\u00a0 \u00a0This is the culmination of an effort that began in 2011, when Carson first authored legislation mandating that service members deployed in combat receive mid-deployment mental health assessments.\u00a0 He has introduced and passed through the House similar provisions every year since.\u00a0\n\u201cToday, we know more than ever about the unseen wounds of war,\u201d said Congressman Carson.\u00a0 \u201cIf left untreated, these issues contribute to higher rates of domestic violence, substance abuse, homelessness, and suicide\u2014especially when combined with financial and relationship difficulties that are common among deploying service members.\u00a0 By mandating regular screening during deployment, when injuries and trauma are most likely to occur, we can improve the likelihood of early detection and treatment. After years of repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, it is time for us to reflect on lessons learned and find ways to better support our deploying service members.\u201d\u00a0\nIn 2011, the NDAA included language from the Service Members Mental Health Screening Act, which ensured that mental health assessments holistically consider records originating from past units, and the Military Families Financial Preparedness Act, which helped prepare separating service members and their families for the financial challenges of civilian life. \u00a0This bill was signed into law by President Obama in December 2011.", 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": ["http://carson.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/house-passes-carson-mental-health-bill"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.670192927122116, "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"}