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HR 542 110th Congress House

To require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mental health services in languages other than English, as needed, for veterans with limited English proficiency, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 10, 2007 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security Access to health careCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCongressional reporting requirementsCounseling
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Department of Veterans AffairsEmployee trainingFamiliesFederal employeesGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment publicityHealthLabor and EmploymentLanguage and languagesMental health servicesMinoritiesPsychotherapyRacial discriminationRecruiting of employeesSocial WelfareSurvivors' benefitsTranslating and interpretingVeterans' benefitsVeterans' medical care
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This bill died when the 110th Congress ended
It never became law before the 110th Congress (2007–2008) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 26, 2007
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Mar 2, 2007
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jan 17, 2007
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jan 17, 2007
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 26, 2007

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends federal veterans' benefits provisions to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in providing counseling and other mental health services to a veteran who has limited proficiency in English, to ensure that such services are available in both English and a language in which that veteran is proficient, if requested by the veteran.

Requires the Secretary to implement a system by which persons with limited English proficiency can access services provided by the Department of Veterans consistent with, and without unduly burdening, the Department's fundamental mission.

Requires a report from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees on the implementation by the Department's Veterans Health Administration of a specified directive to implement prohibitions on discrimination on the basis of national origin for persons with limited English proficiency in federally-conducted programs and activities and in federal financial-assisted programs.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 5
D
Carson, André
Indiana · May 6, 2008
 D
Cuellar, Henry
Texas · Nov 6, 2007
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Oct 16, 2007
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Sep 10, 2007
 D
Matsui, Doris O.
California · Aug 2, 2007
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 542: To require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mental health services in languages other than English, as needed, for veterans with limited English proficiency, and for other purposes.. 110th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-542/
MLA
"H.R. 542: To require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mental health services in languages other than English, as needed, for veterans with limited English proficiency, and for other purposes.." 110th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-542/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 542, 110th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-542/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 542: To require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mental health services in languages other than English, as needed, for veterans with limited English proficiency, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-542/)
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