Recognizing the importance and effectiveness of veteran-to-veteran sponsorship programs.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 483 Recognizing the importance and effectiveness of veteran-to-veteran sponsorship programs. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JULY 10, 2019 Mr. GALLAGHER (for himself and Mr. KIND) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance and effectiveness of veteran-to- veteran sponsorship programs. Whereas approximately 200,000 veterans discharge from the military every year, many experiencing difficulty transitioning from active duty to civilian life; Whereas many veterans experience a heightened risk for de- pression, isolation, post-traumatic stress disorder, confu- sion, or suicidal ideation during the transition period; Whereas evidence-based practices such as veteran-to-veteran peer support have proven to be effective in easing the transition to civilian life; Whereas the National Alliance on Mental Illness has recog- nized that veteran-to-veteran counseling increases self-es- teem, social functioning, and life satisfaction; VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:35 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR483.IH HR483 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 483 IH Whereas the Veterans Health Administration of the Depart- ment of Veterans Affairs has recognized that veteran-to- veteran counseling improves social functioning, quality of life, independence, ability to deal with mental illness, communication skills, employment outcomes, and the ef- fectiveness of the mental health delivery system; Whereas peer-to-peer veteran sponsorship programs help es- tablish a welcoming environment that is more conducive for a positive transition to civilian life; Whereas veteran-to-veteran sponsorship programs are not an intervention, but a guiding hand to assist veterans; Whereas the Federal Government can aid in mitigating emo- tional, physical, and social challenges for veterans strug- gling with transition through support for veteran-to-vet- eran sponsorship programs; and Whereas veteran-to-veteran sponsorship programs have been established in communities in Northeastern Wisconsin and throughout the State, by a variety of entities includ- ing— (1) Brown County, Wisconsin, which hosts the Northeast Wisconsin Battalion, one of the first veteran- to-veteran sponsorship programs of its kind in the State; (2) the 72 County Veterans Service Officers serving every county of Wisconsin, and 11 Tribal Veterans Serv- ice Officers serving Native American veterans, who are examples of veterans helping veterans; (3) La Crosse, Wisconsin, home to the La Crosse Area Veterans Mentor Program (LAVMP) which offers peer-to-peer mentorship and support for veterans strug- gling with substance abuse, homelessness, and social re- integration, offering support through Veterans Treatment Courts, a Veteran Community Health Worker, Peer Sup- VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:35 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR483.IH HR483 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 483 IH port Specialists, and initiating a Peer Advisory for Vet- eran Education program at Western Technical College; (4) the Department of Veterans Affairs, which offers a transition specialist program, acknowledging the neces- sity of assisting veterans transition to civilian life; (5) Outagamie County, Wisconsin, which is home to a veteran-focused nonprofit, Veterans’ Mentor Group, to support other veterans, recruit new veteran mentors, pro- vide training and coordinate with the Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator, in addition to being a resource for other veterans from within the community who may find themselves in need; (6) the military, which offers transition assistance programs to assist veterans with the transition to civilian life; (7) the University of Wisconsin System, which offers Vets for Vets, a student organization of veterans for vet- erans to assist with counseling and benefit information; (8) the University of Wisconsin Madison, which of- fers Peer Advisory for Veteran Education (PAVE), a peer-to-peer advising program that helps student veterans connect with other veterans, transition to college, and meet their personal and academic goals; and (9) the Fox Valley Technical College, as well as many University of Wisconsin campuses, which offer Stu- dent Veterans of America Chapters which are student- based mentoring programs: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) recognizes the importance, effectiveness, 2 and need for veteran-to-veteran sponsorship pro- 3 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:35 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR483.IH HR483 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 483 IH grams among existing programs and agencies of the 1 Federal Government; and 2 (2) encourages the use and practice of veteran 3 to-veteran programs within the Federal Government 4 and Congress. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:35 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR483.IH HR483 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS