OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act

Date: Oct. 23, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans


JOSHUA OMVIG VETERANS SUICIDE PREVENTION ACT -- (House of Representatives - October 23, 2007)

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Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act as amended by the Senate. I also want to thank Mr. Boswell for his hard work in bringing this forward.

H.R. 327 was originally passed by the House unanimously in March. The legislation was slightly modified by the Senate to ensure that referrals for mental health counseling and treatment considered the request of the veteran concerned.

Preventing suicide among our veterans is a top priority of this Congress and the Nation. The Veterans Health Administration estimates there are 1,000 suicides per year among veterans receiving VA health care, and as many as 5,000 per year among all living veterans. These are alarming statistics.

H.R. 327, as amended, establishes requirements for a multifaceted VA suicide prevention plan that strengthens early detection measures, staff education initiatives, and counseling and treatment assistance to reach out and help at-risk veterans to prevent suicides among those who have so bravely served our Nation.

VA has already begun to implement a national suicide prevention lifeline as required by this legislation. The hotline became operational in July of this year. Veterans experiencing thoughts of suicide can call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for help. The first call, according to the VA, was received on July 25. Since that time and through September 1, as a result of calls to the suicide prevention hotline, 346 callers were referred to a VA suicide prevention coordinator, and there were 56 rescues.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 327, as amended, is important legislation that responds to the need to strengthen suicide prevention, education and awareness programs within the VA. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 327, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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