Senator Hassan Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Support State and Local Veterans Treatment Courts

The Senator Also Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Make Preventative Health Care More Affordable for Veterans

WASHINGTON  - Senator Maggie Hassan cosponsored the bipartisan Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act, a bill that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire additional Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) specialists in order to ensure veterans have greater access to effective and tailored treatment. The veterans treatment court model removes veterans from the regular criminal justice process and helps to address symptoms that are unique to veterans, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and substance misuse.

Senator Hassan also cosponsored the bipartisan Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act, which would help make health care more affordable for America’s veterans by changing current law that forces veterans to pay co-pays for preventive health care services that military retirees and civilians with private insurance plans currently receive at no cost.

“Our nation’s veterans deserve the best care possible, and these bipartisan bills are positive steps toward fulfilling the promises we have made to all Granite Staters and Americans who have served,” Senator Hassan said. “Supporting state and local treatment courts for veterans struggling with substance misuse and lowering preventative health care costs are two common-sense steps that we can take to improve the health and well-being of our veterans, and I will continue to work with members of both parties to better support our veterans.”

Senator Hassan also recently cosponsored the bipartisan Andrew White Veterans Community Care Opioid Safety Act to strengthen opioid therapy safety and pain care through the VA community care programs, including through the VA Choice program. Last month, bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen to enable veterans who are living in their own homes to receive certain services at state veterans homes unanimously passed the U.S. Senate.

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