Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019
Floor Speech
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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for putting forth this bill, and I also thank my good friend Ranking Member Roe, who does an outstanding job. He has really done excellent work. It has been an honor to serve with him on behalf of our veterans. I thank him so much for his service, his continuing service to our country and our true American heroes.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act.
This bill will help prevent veteran suicide by expanding access to care, services, and support for at-risk individuals within the VA healthcare system and their local communities. It contains the IMPROVE Act, a bill by my friend General Bergman that I was proud to support as one of the first cosponsors.
This section creates a grant program for community providers to collaborate and assist in suicide prevention services and is modeled after the bipartisan SSVF program, which has been very successful in reducing veteran homelessness. We need new and innovative ways to tackle this tragic problem that our veterans are facing today.
Tragically, 20 servicemembers and veterans take their own lives each day, not in combat, not by violent crime, but due to suicide. We must do everything to stop this, Madam Speaker.
We know, too, that many of those 20 per day are not currently using VA services. That is why this grant program may be particularly helpful, since it specifically targets to reach those veterans who are actively suicidal or at risk of suicide who are not current users of the VA health system.
Madam Speaker, the status quo is unacceptable, and none of us should stand idly by and allow this epidemic of veteran suicide to continue. When we called on them, our heroes, these servicemembers and veterans answered the call to serve. It is time for us to answer the call and support our heroes and get them the help that they have earned and deserve.
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