I was extremely disappointed that the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act was blocked from passage this week in the Senate after it unanimously passed the House. The average suicide rate among veterans is a troubling 22 deaths each day, and the legislation would be instrumental in developing a VA system capable of offering first-rate mental health care services, as well as utilize the expertise of outside organizations to provide support for those struggling with the invisible wounds of war. It is critical that the VA follow through on its commitment to our nation’s veterans – especially so families who have lost loved ones know the VA is committed to suicide prevention to care for others who served our country. There should be no excuse for the VA bureaucracy, push back and delays, or acceptance that this is just the way the VA system works. Veterans must have a VA that was designed and created to take care of them, otherwise, people’s lives are lost. I will urge and sponsor reintroduction of this bill in the new Congress, and will keep working to find solutions and to hold the VA accountable when it comes to providing our nation’s veterans with the timely, high-quality and dedicated care they earned.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 17:02:36 +0000
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