National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Mr. Vice Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, we have all heard the upsetting statistic of 21 veterans committing suicide each and every day. It is unacceptable. This is a crisis for our veterans, their families, the future of our current servicemembers, and our country.

As vice chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have worked to make it a better and healthier life for our true American heroes. That is why I am proud to support H.R. 2345, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act.

When a veteran is in crisis, they need immediate assistance from the Veterans Crisis Hotline. Unfortunately, the current suicide hotline number can be difficult to remember during a time of need and can add minutes to getting help or, even worse, discourage veterans from accessing this important service.

H.R. 2345 would study the feasibility and need of a three-digit dialing code, similar to 911, for the suicide hotline. The bill also studies the effectiveness of the hotline for our Nation's veterans.

This study is an important step in recognizing suicidal thoughts as an emergency, providing those in need the most reliable tools to get help, and continuing to improve a hotline that has already saved countless lives, including many veterans.

For these reasons, I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 2345 and support its passage.

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