Napolitano Speaks Out on Veterans Mental Health Funding

(Washington D.C.)- Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk) submitted remarks to the House of Representatives today with regard to concerns over the removal of critical Mental Health funding in the 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, H.R. 4939.

Her remarks expressed disappointment that the Republican Leadership caved to political pressure and failed to protect critical mental health funds for the healthcare treatment of Veterans, as originally provided in the Senate version of the spending bill.

“Although this supplemental bill will fund many important priorities, it also includes billions of dollars in wasteful spending while ignoring the very practical, immediate mental health needs of our veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan,” stated Napolitano in her remarks.

Senator Akaka (D-Hawaii) amended the original House version to include an additional $430 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  To assist veterans in readjusting to civilian life, the amendment would have included allocations for Vet Centers, a readjustment counseling service provided by the VA.  It also would have allocated critical funding for the VA’s comprehensive Mental Health Plan, which establishes a network of primary and mental health care providers in order to better care for the over one third of returning veterans who have experienced some sort of readjustment issue.  Finally, the Senate amendment provided funding to makeup for the shortfall in service at VA hospitals, where the number of new enrollees waiting for veterans’ health care has increased by over 400 percent.

Responding to mental health concerns for veterans and others, Napolitano revitalized and currently co-chairs the Congressional Mental Health Caucus with Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA).  The caucus works on a wide array of mental health issues in a bipartisan fashion by dedicated Members of Congress and the mental health advocacy community.  More than 90 members from both parties have joined the Caucus, and one of the Caucus’s top priorities is removing the stigma attached to mental health so that its focus is in parity with other ailments.

“Our returning men and women in uniform deserve adequate healthcare and transition assistance, which our country promised to them when they volunteered to serve, and is our duty as a nation to provide,” concluded Napolitano. 

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