Coffman Co-Sponsors Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act

Statement

U.S. Representative Mike Coffman (R-CO) has signed on as a co-sponsor of the Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act, H.R. 2915, a bill originally authored by Democratic Congresswoman Julia Brownley.

Research released by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in May 2015 found that female veterans were six times as likely to commit suicide as civilian women.

H.R. 2915 requires the VA to include specific metrics on female veterans in its evaluations of mental health and suicide prevention programs, and requires the VA to identify the mental health and suicide prevention programs that are the most effective among female veterans.

"It is vital that Congress address this crisis," said Congresswoman Brownley. "My bill will ensure that the VA and Congress understand the unique mental health needs of female veterans, and I thank Representative Coffman for his support on this important issue."

The legislation represents part of a broader reform effort aimed at getting the VA to recognize the growing amount of female veterans utilizing its services, a demographic set to expand greatly in the coming years.

The number of female veterans accessing care at the VA has nearly doubled since 2000, and women now represent 20% of new military recruits.

Earlier this year Coffman introduced the "Women Veterans Access to Quality Care Act" requiring the VA to establish standards to meet the specific needs of female veterans and include female veteran health outcomes in the performance reviews of VA executives.
U.S. Representative Mike Coffman (R-CO) has signed on as a co-sponsor of the Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act, H.R. 2915, a bill originally authored by Democratic Congresswoman Julia Brownley.

Research released by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in May 2015 found that female veterans were six times as likely to commit suicide as civilian women.

H.R. 2915 requires the VA to include specific metrics on female veterans in its evaluations of mental health and suicide prevention programs, and requires the VA to identify the mental health and suicide prevention programs that are the most effective among female veterans.

"It is vital that Congress address this crisis," said Congresswoman Brownley. "My bill will ensure that the VA and Congress understand the unique mental health needs of female veterans, and I thank Representative Coffman for his support on this important issue."

The legislation represents part of a broader reform effort aimed at getting the VA to recognize the growing amount of female veterans utilizing its services, a demographic set to expand greatly in the coming years.

The number of female veterans accessing care at the VA has nearly doubled since 2000, and women now represent 20% of new military recruits.

Earlier this year Coffman introduced the "Women Veterans Access to Quality Care Act" requiring the VA to establish standards to meet the specific needs of female veterans and include female veteran health outcomes in the performance reviews of VA executives.

"As women serve this nation at higher rates so must we prioritize our service to them in return," said Coffman, a Marine Corps combat veteran. "The VA must adapt to the needs of our 21st century fighting force, and this bill will require them to address the unique mental health challenges faced by women who have served this country."
"As women serve this nation at higher rates so must we prioritize our service to them in return," said Coffman, a Marine Corps combat veteran. "The VA must adapt to the needs of our 21st century fighting force, and this bill will require them to address the unique mental health challenges faced by women who have served this country."

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