Congressman Tom Kean Jr. Introduces Legislation to Expand Mental Health Services for New Jersey Veterans in Distressed Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) has introduced new bipartisan legislation on Thursday aimed at significantly expanding mental health services for military veterans residing in New Jersey's rural and underserved areas. According to official reports from the House of Representatives, the proposed "Rural Veterans Mental Health Access Act" seeks to allocate $50 million in federal funding over the next five fiscal years to establish dedicated telemedicine infrastructure and mobile counseling units across the state's less populated counties. Who does this affect? It directly impacts an estimated 18,000 veterans in Hunterdon, Sussex, and Warren counties who have reported barriers to receiving timely psychiatric care. When will this take effect? If passed, the program is scheduled to launch in the 2026 fiscal year following the completion of a needs assessment study. Where will the services be based? Primary operations will be coordinated through the Lyons Campus of the Veterans Administration New Jersey Health Care System. Why is this needed? Citing a recent 2024 Department of Veterans Affairs study, Congressman Kean emphasized that rural veterans face a 40% higher suicide risk than their urban counterparts due to limited access to specialized care. How will the system work? Veterans will be able to schedule virtual appointments via a secure portal or request a visited mobile clinic through a newly established hotline number. This announcement follows Kean's previous efforts to secure funding for rural healthcare, marking his latest initiative to carry forward his father's legacy of service for the Garden State's veterans.