Congressman Boyle Commends President Obama’s Signing of Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act into Law
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama signed H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act into law. This bipartisan legislation – which unanimously passed both the House and Senate – addresses the epidemic of suicide among our nation's veterans.
"Suicide among our nation's veterans is a much too common occurrence," said Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA-13). "Thanks to this law, many brave veterans who struggle to overcome mental health challenges will be given better resources, support and benefits they have earned and deserve. I was proud to support this bipartisan legislation in the House and see it signed into law today by President Obama to ensure our nation stands behind our brave veterans with compassion and dedication."
Named in honor of late Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran and noted suicide prevention advocate who committed suicide on March 31, 2011, The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act (H.R. 203) is another step toward ensuring our nation's veterans have the support they need.
Twenty-two veterans commit suicide daily – more than 8,000 every year. Of the more than 2 million Americans who have served in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is estimated that one-third, roughly 600,000 women and men, have traumatic brain injury, PTSD or depression. In 2014, over 1.4 million Veterans with a mental health diagnosis enrolled in VHA services–an increase of 64% from 2005. This bill will support those veterans, expanding access to and improving the effectiveness of mental health services to help respond to their specific needs.
The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act will take a multi-faceted approach to improve mental health services for our veterans. The bill will establish a peer support and community outreach pilot program to assist transitioning service members with accessing VA mental health care services. To ease access to services, the bill will require the VA to create a one-stop, interactive website to serve as a centralized source of information regarding all mental health services for veterans. A student loan repayment pilot program aimed at recruiting and retaining psychiatrists included in the legislation will help address the shortage of mental health care professionals. To improve care, the legislation will require an annual, third-party evaluation of all mental health care and suicide prevention practices and programs at the VA to find out what's working and what's not.
The bill was introduced by Representative Tim Walz (D-MN), the highest ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in Congress; Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a Purple Heart recipient, Iraq War veteran, and member of the Army National Guard; and Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Committee Jeff Miller (R-FL).