Hoping to combat suicides among America’s veterans, a Republican from North Carolina and a Democrat from Minnesota are pushing new legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Department of Veterans Affairs says 22 vets a day commit suicide, the second-leading cause of death for veterans under age 45. America’s Warrior Partnership says 40-44 vets a day commit suicide. Underreporting and misclassification could skew the numbers.
Justice for America’s Veterans and Survivors Act focuses on data collection. The bill sponsors say accurate cause of death reports will “ensure proper access to benefits and resources for surviving family members.”
“Many veterans carry invisible wounds after their time of service, and we need to better understand the root causes surrounding the loss of our veterans to suicide,” said Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C. “Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs lacks accurate data on the cause of death for deceased veterans, which impacts our ability to draft policy and create effective interventions.”
He said the support and resources to transition back to civilian life are owed to the veterans.
“The mental health crisis among our nation’s veterans requires immediate action,” said Rep. Dr. Kelly Morrison, D-Minn. “As a physician, I know that having thorough and accurate data is a critical step in being able to deliver the best possible care for our patients. I’m proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to increase data accuracy and transparency, improve care for our veterans, support their mental health, and ensure they and their families get the benefits they have earned. Our brave veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much for our country deserve nothing less.”
The bill has support of TAPS, VFW and MOAA. Those acronyms are for, respectively, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors; Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Military Officers Association of America.
Edwards, in his second term, represents North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, in the southwestern part of the state bordering Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. Morrison, in her freshman year, represents Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District on the western side of Minneapolis.
