David Minge: “I rise today to support S. 1402, the Veterans and Dependents Millennium Education Act. Specifically, I would like to…”

“I rise today to support S. 1402, the Veterans and Dependents Millennium Education Act. Specifically, I would like to commend the conferees for including a modified version of my legislation, H.R. 4935. Section 304 of the Veterans and Dependents Millennium Education Act will be a great benefit to our nation's most vulnerable veterans. Current law concerning mentally ill veterans actually discourages them from seeking the mental health services they so desperately need. If a single, mentally ill veteran is institutionalized with an estate over $1,500, his or her estate is essentially reduced to below $500. Upon discharge, he or she would basically have no money for housing or other needs. Today's legislation will modernize the estate levels for institutionalized mentally ill veterans. By tying the estate levels to the service connected disability ratings, we will ensure that they will be adequate and continue to adjust with the cost of inflation. I am proud that Congress is acting to ensure that those who served our country are not forgotten in their time of need.”