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HR 2698 111th Congress House

Veterans and Survivors Behavioral Health Awareness Act

Official title: To improve and enhance the mental health care benefits available to veterans, to enhance counseling and other benefits available to survivors of veterans, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 17, 2009 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security Education programs fundingHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingMedical education
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Mental healthMilitary personnel and dependentsStudent aid and college costsVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' medical care
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 25, 2010
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jun 5, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 4, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jun 4, 2009
Introduced in House
Jun 3, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2698)
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 Latest action March 25, 2010

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Veterans and Survivors Behavioral Health Awareness Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide scholarships to individuals pursuing education or training in behavioral health care specialties that are critical to the operations of Vet Centers (centers for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans) in order to recruit and retain individuals with such specialties for service in Vet Centers. Conditions the scholarship on the recipient's agreeing to serve in such a capacity for whatever period the Secretary specifies in the agreement.

Directs the Secretary, on receipt of a request for counseling from an individual who has been discharged or released from active service, to: (1) provide referrals to assist the individual in obtaining mental health care and services outside the VA; and (2) if pertinent, advise such individual of the individual's rights to apply for review of the discharge or release.

Directs the Secretary to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide emotional support services for survivors of deceased members of the Armed Forces and deceased veterans through the survivors' peers.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 16
All 16 Democratic 3
Sablan, Gregorio
· Sep 28, 2010
Nye, Glenn
· Dec 16, 2009
HILL, BARON
· Dec 9, 2009
Bordallo, Madeleine
· Nov 17, 2009
Childers, Travis
· Nov 17, 2009
 D
Courtney, Joe
Connecticut · Nov 17, 2009
Hodes, Paul
· Nov 17, 2009
 D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Nov 17, 2009
THORNBERRY, WILLIAM
· Nov 17, 2009
INGLIS, BOB
· Nov 4, 2009
Hall, John
· Nov 3, 2009
Adler, John
· Oct 29, 2009
Driehaus, Steve
· Oct 29, 2009
Markey, Betsy
· Sep 29, 2009
Massa, Eric
· Sep 29, 2009
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Jul 30, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2698: Veterans and Survivors Behavioral Health Awareness Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2698/
MLA
"H.R. 2698: Veterans and Survivors Behavioral Health Awareness Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2698/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2698, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2698/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2698: Veterans and Survivors Behavioral Health Awareness Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2698/)
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