Murkowski Joins Walsh to Fight Veteran Suicide Epidemic

Press Release

Senator John Walsh's veteran suicide prevention bill has a new lieutenant in Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who has signed on as a lead sponsor of the Suicide Prevention for America's Veterans (SAV) Act.

The SAV Act expands mental health services for veterans, as well as improves the quality of care available. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that more than 22 veterans die by suicide each day.

"Preventing America's heroes from falling to suicide isn't a partisan issue," Walsh said, "It is our duty to come together and fight on behalf of those who fought for us and Senator Murkowski's support will strengthen this bill and send the urgent message that our veterans need care now."

Walsh, who led an infantry battalion in Iraq in 2004-2005, is the Senate's first Iraq War veteran.

"Every year, thousands of Alaska soldiers and airmen deploy to dangerous areas and defend our nation and our interests; when they return back home to their communities and families, too many of them find themselves in a new conflict -- within themselves," said Murkowski. "It's a fight for their futures and a fight to transition back to a "new normal' for them, and it's a battle where we must, as a nation, stand by their side. The SAV Act will deliver for them the success they delivered for us."

Walsh and Murkowski worked with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to craft the legislation.

"Senator Murkowski has sent a strong message to vets in Alaska and across the nation that combating suicide must be a bipartisan effort," said IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff. "As Memorial Day nears we look forward to working with Senator Walsh, Senator Murkowski and members from both parties on this top issue for veterans."

Walsh and Murkowski's home state colleagues Senators Jon Tester and Mark Begich have cosponsored the SAV Act, as well as Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The Suicide Prevention for America's Veterans Act will:

· Extend Special Combat Eligibilityfrom 5 to 15 years, providing access to care to troops and veterans for 10 additional years.

· Review Wrongful Discharges. An unknown numbers of troops who struggle with mental health issues have been discharged for behavior often caused by invisible injuries. This legislation sets up a review process for potentially wrongful discharges.

· Increase the number of professionals at the VA. This legislation increases the VA's capacity to meet demands for mental health care professionals by repaying medical school loans for psychiatrists who commit to long-term service in the VA.

· Improve Mental Health Care and Suicide Prevention Programs. Under this bill, an annual review will be conducted of care programs within DOD and the VA to ensure resources are effectively combatting the problem of veteran suicide.

· Ensure Training for Mental Health Care Providers. The VA and DOD will be required to ensure mental health care providers have special training to identify veterans at-risk for suicide.

· Create Greater Collaboration Between the VA and DOD, providing continuous and seamless care to veterans by putting a timeline on the National Defense Authorization Act mandate to make all DOD and VA records electronic.

· Establish a Common Drug Formulary Between DOD and the VA. The SAV Act requires DOD and the VA to adopt the same drug formulary for prescription medication to ensure seamless care.