Vet Suicide Bill On the Move
Suitland, MD, Jan. 29, 2015 – In the first month of the 114th Congress the U.S. House of Representatives picked up where it left off on the Clay Hunt Act. Formally titled the “Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act,'' H.R.203 was introduced by Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) on Jan. 7 and passed just five days later on Jan. 12 by a vote of 403-0. Now its companion bill S.167 introduced by Sen John McCain (R-AZ) awaits action in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee before a floor vote can occur.
AFSA reminds readers that due to the action of one retiring U.S. Senator, Tom Coburn (R-Okla), this bill was blocked at the end of the 113th Congress. The legislation is named after Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran Clay Hunt, a Marine who died by suicide in 2011. Addressing the epidemic of veteran suicide, it unanimously passed the House before Senator Coburn’s block prevented advancement to President Obama for signature into law. Coburn asserted this bill “throws money and doesn't solve the real problem" of inadequate care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. AFSA emphatically disagrees. “While we don’t believe the Clay Hunt SAV Act goes far enough, it is a great start” said AFSA CEO Rob Frank.
VA estimates that 22 Veterans take their lives every day which equates to over 150 suicides per week, over 600 suicides per month, and over 8,000 suicides per year. There is no doubt this is a serious problem that must be addressed. “If approved, it will create much needed peer-support programs for Veterans at risk, enable the VA to recruit the psychiatrists they need with loan re-payment programs and develop online mental health resources” Frank went on to say.
AFSA reminds readers that due to the action of one retiring U.S. Senator, Tom Coburn (R-Okla), this bill was blocked at the end of the 113th Congress. The legislation is named after Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran Clay Hunt, a Marine who died by suicide in 2011. Addressing the epidemic of veteran suicide, it unanimously passed the House before Senator Coburn’s block prevented advancement to President Obama for signature into law. Coburn asserted this bill “throws money and doesn't solve the real problem" of inadequate care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. AFSA emphatically disagrees. “While we don’t believe the Clay Hunt SAV Act goes far enough, it is a great start” said AFSA CEO Rob Frank.
VA estimates that 22 Veterans take their lives every day which equates to over 150 suicides per week, over 600 suicides per month, and over 8,000 suicides per year. There is no doubt this is a serious problem that must be addressed. “If approved, it will create much needed peer-support programs for Veterans at risk, enable the VA to recruit the psychiatrists they need with loan re-payment programs and develop online mental health resources” Frank went on to say.