Young's Veterans Crisis Line Bill Clears Committee - Ready for Vote in the Full House

Press Release

Iowa Congressman David Young released the following statement after his legislation, the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act (H.R. 5392), was approved in a markup by the full U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee. Young's bipartisan legislation seeks to provide necessary responsiveness and performance improvements to the Veterans Crisis Line, which is the confidential, toll free hotline for veterans seeking suicide prevention and crisis resources help from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) responders.

"When a veteran in need calls the Veterans Crisis Line, they should not be left waiting on the line," Congressman Young said. "My legislation works to ensure quality control measures are in place so veterans can get the help they're seeking. I appreciate the support my legislation has received from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as it works to ensure we keep the promises we've made to our veterans."

Congressman Young's legislation responds to concerns voiced by Iowa veterans about unanswered calls, emails or other communications to the Veterans Crisis Line, and failed attempts to receive help from the resource. The experiences veterans conveyed to Congressman Young directly dispute previous assurances from the VA to congressional veterans affairs committees that problems of this nature had been addressed. The legislation also comes at the heels of investigations by the VA Office of the Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office, which revealed a lack of quality control measures to ensure communications are answered promptly and response efforts are properly documented.

The No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act directs the VA Secretary to:

Create a quality assurance process outlining performance indicators and objectives to address responsiveness and performance of the Veterans Crisis Line and backup call centers, and a timeline noting when objectives will be reached.

Develop a plan to ensure any communication to the Veterans Crisis Line or backup call center is answered in a timely manner by a person in accordance with the guidance established by the American Association of Suicidology.

Submit the plan to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate within 180 days of the legislation's enactment.

More About the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act:

September 14, 2016 - Congressman Young highlights need for reliable mental health resources for veterans.

September 8, 2016 - South Dakota Senator John Thune introduces companion legislation to Congressman Young's No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act.

September 1, 2016 - Congressman Young sends a letter to VA Secretary McDonald highlighting continued problems with the Veterans Crisis Line.

June 28, 2016 - Congressman Young reacts to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report finding approximately 30 percent of text messages sent as tests to the Veterans Crisis Line went unanswered.
June 23, 2016 - Congressman Young testifies before the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee on the importance of the legislation.

June 7, 2016 - Congressman Young introduces the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act in response to concerns voiced by Iowa veterans about unanswered calls, emails or other communications, and failed attempts to receive help from the Veterans Crisis Line.

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