Young, Thune Applaud Senate Passage of Veterans Crisis Line Improvements Legislation

Press Release

Iowa Congressman David Young and South Dakota Senator John Thune today applauded the unanimous U.S. Senate approval of the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act (H.R. 5392). Congressman Young introduced the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, and Senator Thune introduced a companion version of the legislation in the U.S. Senate.

The No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act 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.

"Our veterans make tremendous sacrifices in defense of our freedoms and liberties, and when a veteran is in crisis, they deserve our full support, no exceptions," Congressman Young said. "Problems with the Veterans Crisis Line are simply unacceptable, and this legislation seeks to fix this critical mental health tool, to support our returning heroes. I appreciate the unanimous support this legislation has received from my colleagues in both the House and the Senate, and I hope upon reaching the president's desk, this bill will be quickly signed into law."

"The Veterans Crisis Line is a critical lifeline for the military men and women who return home from combat, oftentimes having to cope with the invisible wounds of war," said Senator Thune. "When our heroes need someone to reach out to, the least we can do is ensure there's someone available to answer their call. I want to thank Rep. Young for his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to the president signing our bill without delay."

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 26, 2016 - Congressman Young's No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act was approved by the full U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 357-0.

September 21, 2016 - Congressman Young's No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act was approved in a markup by the full U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee.

September 14, 2016 - Congressman Young urges his colleagues to support the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

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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