Rosen-Backed Bipartisan Legislation to Designate National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Hotline for Veterans Passes the House

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (NV-03), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018, a bipartisan bill she co-sponsored, passed the House by a vote of 379-1. H.R. 2345 requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consult with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a feasibility study on designating a three-digit dialing code for a suicide prevention and mental health national crisis hotline, similar to 911. Roughly 56,000 veterans call Nevada's 3rd Congressional District home.

"Improving suicide prevention outreach continues to be a major area of concern for our veterans, and that's why I'm glad to see this bipartisan legislation pass the House," said Rosen. "I will continue to fight for increased resources and funding to support those who have sacrificed so much to defend our country."

Since joining Congress, Rosen has supported numerous efforts aimed at providing our veterans with important resources, including:

Keeping Our Commitment to Ending Veteran Homelessness Act - This bipartisan bill introduced by Rosen would reauthorize several key programs that provide outreach and services to homeless veterans in Nevada and across the country.

Veterans Job Opportunity Act - This legislation would establish a small business startup tax credit for veterans who create businesses in underserved communities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than one in 10 small businesses in Nevada are Veteran-owned, with over 23,000 Veteran-owned businesses helping to create jobs and support our economy.

Fair Access to Insurance for Retired (FAIR) Heroes Act - This bill would provide disabled veterans, who are medically retired from the military, the ability to choose between TRICARE and Medicare Part B, whichever health plan works best for their families. This bill could potentially save many veterans up to $1,300 a year on their health care costs.

Veterans Deserve Better Act - This bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Rosen would improve access to quality health care for veterans who count on the Veterans Choice Program. Two of the provisions included in Rosen's Veterans Deserve Better Act passed the House as part of the VA MISSION Act. Rosen's provisions included in the VA MISSION Act require prompt reimbursement to non-VA health care providers serving our veterans and a program to educate veterans about their VA health options. Specifically, it would require the VA to pay for or deny payment to outside providers within 30 days of receiving an electronic claim, or within 45 days of receiving a paper claim. Rosen introduced her bipartisan Veterans Deserve Better Act in January with Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC). Rosen opposes privatizing the VA.

Veterans Exposed to Herbicide Bill - This bipartisan bill expands Agent Orange benefits to Vietnam War-era veterans and their families exposed to toxic herbicide substances from Thailand.

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