PoliticalRepoPoliticalRepo

United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 1639 (109th)

Military Health Services Improvement Act of 2005

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

14 April 2005

Last action

6 May 2005 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Sponsors

Rosa DeLauro, Rep. Evans, Lane [D-IL-17], Del. Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [D-GU-At Large], Raúl Grijalva, Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8], Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51], Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7], Ed Case, Rep. Capps, Lois [D-CA-24], LUIS GUTIERREZ, NITA LOWEY, Rep. Emanuel, Rahm [D-IL-5], John Larson, Rep. Hooley, Darlene [D-OR-5], Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-9], Rep. Kennedy, Patrick J. [D-RI-1], JOSE SERRANO, Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Rep. Baird, Brian [D-WA-3], ELIJAH CUMMINGS, Rick Larsen, Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH], COLLIN PETERSON, Sheila Jackson Lee, Betty McCollum, Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-19], Rep. Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [D-OH-11], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6], Rep. Schwartz, Allyson Y. [D-PA-13], EDDIE JOHNSON, Del. Christensen, Donna M. [D-VI-At Large], GENE GREEN, Rep. Moore, Dennis [D-KS-3], Rep. Stupak, Bart [D-MI-1], Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Cardoza, Dennis A. [D-CA-18], Rep. Solis, Hilda L. [D-CA-32], Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12], Rep. Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [D-SD-At Large], Rep. Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-17], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Rep. Tierney, John F. [D-MA-6], Maxine Waters, Sanford Bishop, JOHN CONYERS, Rep. McIntyre, Mike [D-NC-7]

Subjects

Healthcare, Defence

Source updated

15 August 2025

Healthcare · Defence

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Military Health Services Improvement Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to prescribe a requirement that members of the Armed Forces: (1) deploying to a combat theater receive a pre-deployment mental health evaluation conducted by a qualified mental health professional; and (2) returning from service of more than 30 days in a combat theater, or injured in a combat theater, receive a post-deployment combat stress evaluation conducted by a qualified mental health professional. Directs the Secretary to implement a program designed to: (1) raise awareness about mental health issues that members may encounter during and after deployment; and (2) reduce the stigma associated with mental health care. Directs the Secretary to develop a program to improve awareness of the availability of mental health services for, and warning signs about mental health problems in, dependents of members who served or will serve in a combat theater during the previous or next 60 days. Requires such program to include a toll-free number and informational website. Directs the Secretary: (1) and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into a memorandum of understanding to improve the transition of mental health-related cases from the Department of Defense (DOD) to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); (2) to create an information clearinghouse to improve the availability of information about mental health professionals who treat combat stress; and (3) to provide for the availability (for a two-year period) of mental health services under the TRICARE program (a DOD managed health care program) for reserve personnel who performed certain active duty (and their family members).

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 14 April 2005

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 14 April 2005

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E671-672)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 14 April 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 14 April 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 6 May 2005

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

View fileDownload file

Sponsors

Showing 48 of 54 sponsors and actors.

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.