WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Tim Ryan cosponsored  legislation eliminating a time frame for veterans to seek treatment for service-related mental illness.

Prior to this legislation, the bipartisan Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act gave veterans a five-year window in which they were able to seek treatment before losing their higher priority status.

This bill will allow those affected to seek treatment, regardless of when the condition manifests.

"Too many veterans are serving their countries and coming home to take their own lives. We need to remain committed to providing these veterans with the health care services they earned, including mental health services," Congressman Ryan said in a release.

According the release, this bill maintains the role of the VA in treating service-related disorders and allows its healthcare professionals to diagnose mental disorders and illnesses according to established procedures.