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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Citizens of the United States owe an incalculable |
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debt to the nation's military personnel, who have served so |
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valiantly and sacrificed so much in this country's behalf; and |
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WHEREAS, The current U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
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policy of suspending hospital and outpatient care services to |
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incarcerated veterans is especially detrimental to those |
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individuals in need of mental health care; some of these men and |
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women are committed to the state hospitals awaiting restoration of |
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competency in order to stand trial, and the scarcity of timely |
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access to services in these facilities can prolong their detention; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Veterans suffer disproportionately from |
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post-traumatic stress disorder, which is often worsened by |
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incarceration and can lead to depression and suicidal thoughts and |
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actions, and incarcerated veterans too often lack access to |
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treatment for this condition; and |
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WHEREAS, Improved coordination between the VA and state and |
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local jurisdictions would enable eligible veterans to continue to |
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receive mental health care and other VA services; in addition, VA |
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reimbursement provided to secure mental health facilities for |
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forensic beds and services would ensure better medical treatment |
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for veterans and help alleviate the legal delays frequently |
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experienced by incarcerated veterans with mental health issues; and |
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WHEREAS, Veterans of the U.S. armed forces have earned the |
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lasting gratitude of all Americans for their devotion to duty, and |
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they are deserving of prompt and compassionate assistance in their |
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time of need; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to |
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require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide VA |
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services to veterans on forensic commitments at state hospitals; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That Congress consider expanding such services to |
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all incarcerated veterans; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of |
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Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the |
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members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that |
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this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a |
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memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. |
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Farias |
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Guillen |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 46 was adopted by the House on April |
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30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 46 was adopted by the Senate on May |
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26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |