Veterans Posttraumatic Growth Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1997 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot program on posttraumatic growth, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 29, 2019 Mr. RYAN (for himself, Mr. RESCHENTHALER, Mr. WATKINS, Mr. SUOZZI, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, and Mr. CARSON of Indiana) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot program on posttraumatic growth, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans 4 Posttraumatic Growth Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds the following: 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:12 Apr 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1997.IH H1997 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HR 1997 IH (1) There is a shortage of adequate, timely, and 1 effective mental health care available to veterans 2 across the United States. 3 (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs con- 4 tinues to highlight veterans mental health care and 5 suicide prevention as a key priority. 6 (3) There is an opportunity to explore effective 7 alternative treatments focused on the area of 8 posttraumatic growth. 9 SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM ON POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH. 10 (a) PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 11 shall conduct a pilot program to study the effectiveness 12 and benefits of nonprofit posttraumatic growth programs 13 to determine— 14 (1) the outcomes of such programs in contrast 15 to traditional models of mental health care; 16 (2) the possible integration of such nonprofit 17 programs into the mental health care programs pro- 18 vided by the Secretary; and 19 (3) the budgetary impacts of such integration. 20 (b) REVIEW AND EVALUATION.—In developing the 21 pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 22 (1) review relevant literature to summarize the 23 existing knowledge regarding posttraumatic growth 24 programs; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:12 Apr 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1997.IH H1997 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HR 1997 IH (2) evaluate such programs. 1 (c) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the 2 pilot program under subsection (a) for a two-year period 3 beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of 4 the enactment of this Act. 5 (d) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall select more 6 than one location at which to carry out the pilot program 7 under subsection (a), of which at least one location shall 8 include a rural area. 9 (e) PARTICIPANTS.— 10 (1) ELIGIBILITY.—A veteran is eligible to par- 11 ticipate in the pilot program under subsection (a) if 12 the Secretary determines that the veteran is— 13 (A) not at known immediate risk of at- 14 tempting suicide; and 15 (B) not participating in traditional mental 16 health treatment. 17 (2) FEMALE VETERANS.—Not fewer than four 18 groups of veterans participating in the pilot program 19 under subsection (a) shall consist only of female vet- 20 erans. 21 (f) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.—The Secretary 22 shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) by 23 entering into an agreement with one or more nonprofit 24 organizations that— 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:12 Apr 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1997.IH H1997 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HR 1997 IH (1) have staff with expertise in evidence-based 1 care and experience working with veterans; 2 (2) have experience in the science of 3 posttraumatic growth; and 4 (3) uses a standardized, evaluated, and com- 5 prehensive curriculum. 6 (g) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 7 on which the pilot program under subsection (a) is com- 8 pleted, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 9 on the pilot program, including a comparison of the care 10 provided under the pilot program and the clinical care 11 model of the Department. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:12 Apr 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1997.IH H1997 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS