H.R. 4233 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide optional counseling and mental health services to veterans and military personnel who receive education benefits from the department. Under the bill, VA would provide reintegration counseling at its community-based counseling centers to those who request such services. Using information from VA on how many additional people would use counseling services under the bill, CBO expects that the department would minimally increase staffing hours at its centers. Thus, CBO estimates that the expanded eligibility would cost less than $500,000 over the 2022-2026 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The bill also would require the Government Accountability Office to report to the Congress on the mental health needs of veterans who use VA educational benefits and on how VA addresses those needs. Using information about similar reports, CBO estimates that satisfying the requirement would cost $1 million over the 2022-2026 period. Such spending would be subjected to the availability of appropriated funds.
