Congressman McNerney Co-Authors Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Veteran Suicides

Press Release

Today Congressman Jerry McNerney and a group of bipartisan members of congress introduced a bill intended to prevent veteran suicides by ensuring veterans have access to the highest quality mental health care.

The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act for American Veterans (Clay Hunt SAV) Act is named in honor of Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran and suicide prevention advocate Clay Hunt, who tragically took his own life in March of 2011.

"We have an obligation to make sure our veterans get the care they need," said Rep. McNerney. "Even one veteran suicide is too many. This bill will increase access and capacity for mental health care at the VA, and improve the quality of that care. "

The bill, HR 5059, changes the requirements for reviewing potentially improper discharge characterizations of individuals diagnosed with PTSD or TBI so that vets can get full access to the care they have earned, and requires the VA to create a one-stop, interactive website to serve as a centralized source of information regarding all mental health services for veterans. It also addresses the shortage of mental health care professionals by authorizing the VA to conduct a student loan repayment pilot program aimed at recruiting and retaining psychiatrists, and requires a yearly evaluation, conducted by a third party, of all mental health care and suicide prevention practices and programs at the DoD and VA to find out what's working and what's not working and make recommendations to improve care.

"The VFW is proud to support the Clay Hunt SAV Act, which includes suggestions we brought to Congress from those on the ground -- the military community, mental health care providers, family caregivers, and the veterans who face the effects of mental health care wounds every day," said Raymond C. Kelly, VFW Director of National Legislative Services.

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