First Time Federal Funds Dedicated to Pioneering Veterans Treatment Courts

WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Representative Patrick Meehan (PA-07) announced $4 million in federal funding for veterans treatment courts has been included in the House Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2013. This is the first time federal funding has been appropriated for veterans treatment courts - a hybrid of drug and mental health courts that serve veterans struggling with addiction, mental illness, or other disorders. The appropriations bill, released by the Subcommittee today, will be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

Meehan led the fight in the House for this funding and introduced legislation, the H.R. 3721, the Servicemember Assistance for Lawful Understanding, Treatment and Education (SALUTE) Act, last year which would make federal funding available for veterans treatment courts. Meehan and Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery testified before the Justice subcommittee and its chairman, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), last month on the importance of veterans treatment courts.

“Local leaders in Pennsylvania and across the country have done the right thing and established veterans treatment courts to ensure our heroes get the care they need,” Meehan said. “These courts and our veterans deserve federal support. I’m grateful to Congressman Wolf, who has always been a leader for veterans, for his support, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to see this funding signed into law.”

“It is important for us to recognize that our veterans returning home often face a myriad of challenges unlike anything that the rest of us must face,” said Congressman Frank Wolf (VA-10), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. “The advent of veterans treatment courts has given us the opportunity to both reform our prison system and make sure that our veterans get the proper help they need. I’m glad that our subcommittee was able to support these courts despite a tough fiscal climate and I’m grateful to Congressman Meehan for making this issue a priority on Capitol Hill.”

According to the RAND Corporation, one in five veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will experience a stress related mental illness, and many turn to drugs and alcohol to help cope from the trauma of the battlefield. Veterans treatment courts provide access to counseling, drug and alcohol treatment and other services as part of the criminal justice system. Veterans treatment court programs include drug testing and strict requirements. Successful completion of the program gives veterans who deserve a second chance the ability to lessen or dismiss the charges against them.