WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) helped pass critical bipartisan legislation that will expand veteran mental health resources, help ensure veteran mothers have proper health care, and enable more veteran families to receive in-state college tuition, as a part of his commitment to fight for the 32,000 veterans and their families living in New Jersey’s Fifth District.

The Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021, and the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act all recently passed out of the House with Gottheimer’s support. 

“One of my bedrock responsibilities is to always have the backs of those who’ve had ours. There is nothing more solemn, nothing more sacred in the oath that I’ve taken,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “These are not red or blue issues — they are red, white, and blue, they are Jersey issues, and I’ve been proud to work across the aisle in Congress to improve veterans’ benefits and care. The vital bipartisan legislation that we just passed out of the House will help ensure our brave veterans and their families have access to mental health and maternal health resources and can afford to survive and thrive when they return home after they’ve risked their lives to protect our great country. I urge the President and the Senate to move swiftly to get these critical bills fully signed into law.”

Gottheimer-backed bipartisan legislation, which recently passed the House to support North Jersey veterans, includes:

The Protecting Moms Who Served Act (S. 796) — requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a maternity care coordination program that coordinates, supports, and trains community maternity care providers (i.e., non-VA maternity care providers) to serve the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum veterans, with an emphasis on the unique mental health needs of those who have served in the Armed Forces. 

The Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act (H.R. 4233) — will expand access to mental health services for veterans utilizing their GI Benefits at colleges and universities through established Vet Centers.

The Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act (S. 1095) — will require public colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition to the families of service members who die or become disabled, or otherwise cannot receive VA education benefits.  

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