H.R. 7735

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7735 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7735

To require the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense 
Joint Executive Committee to assess the effectiveness of certain mental 
health activities of the Departments, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 26, 2026

Mr. Golden of Maine (for himself, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Suozzi, and Mr. 
Bacon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 
Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense 
Joint Executive Committee to assess the effectiveness of certain mental 
health activities of the Departments, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Mental Health Support for 
Servicemembers and Veterans Act''.

SEC. 2. ASSESSMENTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS-DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE JOINT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF CERTAIN MENTAL 
HEALTH ACTIVITIES.

(a) Overall Inventory, Assessment, and Report.--
(1) Inventory and assessment.--The Department of Veterans 
Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee under 
section 320 of title 38, United States Code, shall--
(A) complete an inventory of the programs and 
processes of the Departments that facilitate access to 
mental health services across the transition spectrum; 
and
(B) conduct an assessment of the overall 
effectiveness of such programs and processes in 
facilitating access to such services.
(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Joint Executive Committee shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives a report on the results of the 
assessment. The report shall include--
(A) the inventory under paragraph (1)(A);
(B) the results of the assessment under paragraph 
(1)(B), including whether the assessment identified any 
deficiencies, gaps, or inefficiencies (such as 
duplicative programs);
(C) recommendations to address the identified 
deficiencies, gaps, or inefficiencies, if any, 
including plans of action, milestones, and metrics; and
(D) any other information or recommendations that 
the Joint Executive Committee considers appropriate.
(b) Biennial Review of the Joint Separation Health Assessment.--
Section 320(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph:
``(7) Review, at least once every two years, the joint 
separation health assessment to validate the questions posed by 
the assessment and to recommend whether any questions should be 
removed, revised, or added.''.
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