releases: https://susielee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-lee-speaks-house-floor-support-expanding-veterans-mental-health-care
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://susielee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-lee-speaks-house-floor-support-expanding-veterans-mental-health-care | Rep. Lee Speaks on House Floor in Support of Expanding Veterans Mental Health Care | 2020-09-23 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | House | NV | Susie Lee | L000590 | susielee.house.gov | legacy | CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD VIDEO FILE Washington, D.C. U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.-03) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of theCommander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act.This bill will implementa comprehensive and aggressive strategy to reach more veterans with the mental health care they need. The following is a transcript of Rep. Lee's remarks: I stand today in support of Senate Bill 785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act. In addition to making critical updates related to VA transition assistance, mental health care, and care for women veterans, this billalsoincludes an important provisionthatI championed here in the House in the form of the VA Telehealth Expansion Act, which would provide entitieswith grantsexpanding telehealth capabilities to serve veterans throughout theVA. We knowthe stat that over 20 veterans take their life by suicide each day, and not one suicide is acceptable. Many of those veterans are not accessing VA care, and we know telehealth is another venue to allow those veterans increased access to care. And whether a veteran is homebound, in a rural community, in acommunitywithoutaccess to a VA clinic or hospital, or as we've seen during this pandemic, at high risk of dying if they catch COVID-19, this pandemic has shown usjusthow critical it is for our veterans to be able to accesshealth care through telehealth. In my home stateof Nevada, in just one weekthat Southern Nevada began responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number ofveterans in theSouthernNevada Healthcare Systemwho hadtelehealth visits, that numberwas just under 150. Fast forward to the week of July 19, they were providing over 2,000 video visits to veterans in their homes via VA Video Connect. That means that telehealth video visits increased by over 1,000 percent. It's abundantly clear that telehealth has provided improved access in health care for so many veterans, and we must continue to invest in the VA's telehealth capacity. S.785 does just that. Before I yield the balance of my time, I want to give a special thank you to Congressman Roe, the Ranking Member, for his leadership on this committee. I've only been working with you one term,but without a doubt your commitment to our veterans is clear. BACKGROUND: On July 30, 2020, Rep. Lee, along with Republican Rep. Jim Banks (Ind.-03), introduced the bipartisan VA Telehealth Expansion Act to improve and expand telehealth services for veterans at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Click here to learn more about the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |