S. 3374 (110th): Healing Our Nation’s Heroes Act of 2008

Introduced:
Jul 31, 2008 (110th Congress, 2007–2009)
Sponsor:
Sen. Gordon Smith [R-OR]
Status:
Died (Referred to Committee)

The bill’s title was written by the bill’s sponsor. S. stands for Senate bill.

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Status

This bill was introduced on July 31, 2008, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted.

Progress
Introduced Jul 31, 2008
Referred to Committee Jul 31, 2008
Cosponsors
1 cosponsors (1D) (show)
Committees

Senate Veterans' Affairs

The committee chair determines whether a bill will move past the committee stage.

Full Title

A bill to establish a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other mental health disorders, to enhance the capacity of mental health providers to assist such veterans and members, and for other purposes.

Summary

No summaries available.

Text

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Last updated Jul 31, 2008.
34 pages

Primary Source

View on THOMAS (The Library of Congress)

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GovTrack’s Bill Summary

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Library of Congress Summary

The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.

7/31/2008--Introduced.
Healing Our Nation's Heroes Act of 2008 - Establishes a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces (members) with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other mental health disorders caused by military service.
Requires the commission to:
(1) oversee the monitoring and treatment of veterans and members with such disorders; and
(2) conduct a study of the long-term adverse consequences of such disorders for such veterans and members.
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to carry out a program, to be known as the Heroes-to-Healers Program, to assist veterans and members separating from service to:
(1) obtain certification as mental health care providers; and
(2) find employment with federal, state, and local agencies and nongovernmental organizations that provide mental health care to members, veterans, and their families.
Requires participants, following certification, to work for at least five years in such mental health care capacity, but authorizes the Secretary to waive such requirement when considered appropriate.
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to pay a bonus of up to $10,000 to a Program participant who agrees to such service.
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to establish a program to award grants to encourage state and local mental health agencies and other entities to establish, expand, or enhance mental health provider recruitment and retention efforts.
Requires participants who receive training through the program to serve at a high-need medical facility or agency for at least three years.

House Republican Conference Summary

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No summary available.

House Democratic Caucus Summary

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The bill contains the following citations to other parts of U.S. law:

United States Code

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