AMVETS Supports New Legislation Eliminating “Ticking Clock”

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Charles B. Rangel joined Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Colleagues in introducing legislation today to protect veterans’ rights to mental healthcare treatment and services. The “Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act” is also supported by the AMVETS service organization. 

The Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act would eliminate a five year window to seek mental health treatment, allowing veterans who served in combat from all military operations to seek treatment for service-connected mental illnesses, regardless of when their conditions manifest themselves.

“Placing a deadline on veterans who may come to need mental health treatment means many of our wounded warriors simply will not receive that care,” said Rangel. “Just like physical battle scars, we’ve seen the devastating consequences when mental injuries go untreated. This Act will help remove the stigma and the bureaucratic boundaries that stand in the way of wellness for our brave veterans.” 

Unlike physical injuries from the battlefield, which are immediately obvious and life threatening, mental illnesses might not manifest until years after active duty, according to the Veteran’s Administration (VA). Despite this potential need for treatment, veterans have a limited window of time to seek help. The Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act eliminates those arbitrary deadlines. Congressman Carnahan says the timing of this legislation could not be more appropriate. 

VA officials estimate that up to 43-percent of veterans who served in Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF) may eventually need mental health services. Currently, OEF and OIF veterans face a five year window in which they must seek treatment for mental illnesses before losing their higher priority status. Veterans from previous wars face even harsher bureaucratic obstacles.

"For too long, our brave men and women in uniform suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and mental illnesses have lacked proper care.  Combat exposure during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has been especially high, meaning more soldiers are likely to suffer from mental health problems.  Many soldiers face multiple deployments and multiple year combat situations that also make them vulnerable to poor mental health," Rangel stated. "We must develop greater understanding of the mental trauma and stress facing combat veterans and make certain all veterans have access to receive the necessary care and support they deserve."

The Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act would also make the services and treatments that are available to OEF and OIF veterans available to all veterans who have served in combat in previous military operations such as the Second World War, the Korean War, and Vietnam. The VA would continue treating only service-related disorders and allows its healthcare professionals to diagnose mental disorders and illnesses according to established procedures. 

The veterans service organization AMVETS also heralded the introduction of the legislation today. 

“As the protectors of our nation and global ambassadors throughout the world, the mental health of our service members should be a national priority,” said Stewart Hickey, National Executive Director of AMVETS. “AMVETS feels that there isn’t enough that we as a nation can do to repay our military members and veterans for their service and sacrifice.  If, and whenever, our service members need access to mental healthcare treatment and services they should be readily available.”