[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2340 Received in Senate (RDS)]

<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2340


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 22, 2019

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide to Congress 
notice of any suicide or attempted suicide of a veteran in a Department 
         of Veterans Affairs facility, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fostering Intergovernmental Health 
Transparency in Veteran Suicides Act'' or ``FIGHT Veteran Suicides 
Act''.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE OF SUICIDES AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDES OF 
              VETERANS IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES.

    Section 1720F of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(l) Congressional Notice Requirements.--(1) In the case of the 
suicide or attempted suicide of any veteran that occurs in, or on the 
grounds of, a Department facility, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives and the Senators and member of Congress representing 
the district in which the facility is located and the Senators and 
member of Congress representing the district in which the veteran 
resides the following notices:
            ``(A) Not later than 7 days after the date on which the 
        suicide or attempted suicide occurs, notice of--
                    ``(i) the suicide or attempted suicide; and
                    ``(ii) the name of the facility and location where 
                the suicide or attempted suicide occurred.
            ``(B) Subject to subparagraph (C), not later than 60 days 
        after such date, notice of the following information (if 
        available) regarding the veteran who committed or attempted to 
        commit suicide:
                    ``(i) The enrollment status of the veteran with 
                respect to the patient enrollment system of the 
                Department under section 1705 of this title.
                    ``(ii) The most recent encounter between the 
                veteran and any employee or facility of the Veterans 
                Health Administration before the suicide or attempted 
                suicide occurred.
                    ``(iii) Whether the veteran had other medical 
                insurance or coverage (including TRICARE, Medicare, and 
                Medicaid).
                    ``(iv) The Armed Force in which the veteran served.
                    ``(v) The time period when the veteran served in 
                the Armed Forces.
                    ``(vi) The age of the veteran.
                    ``(vii) The marital status of the veteran.
                    ``(viii) The employment status of the veteran.
                    ``(ix) The housing status of the veteran.
                    ``(x) The gender identity of the veteran.
                    ``(xi) The sexual orientation of the veteran.
                    ``(xii) The race of the veteran.
                    ``(xiii) Confirmation that the Secretary has 
                provided notice to the immediate family members of the 
                veteran regarding any Department support or assistance 
                for which such family members may be eligible.
            ``(C) In collecting and reporting information under 
        subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall take all steps the 
        Secretary determines necessary to respect the privacy and 
        dignity of the veteran and the family of the veteran.
    ``(2) Each notice submitted under subparagraph (A) or (B) of 
paragraph (1) shall include a copy of guidance developed by the 
Secretary for purposes of dissemination that is designed to--
            ``(A) deter the sensationalism of suicide;
            ``(B) provide information regarding warning signs that are 
        often exhibited by veterans at risk of suicide; and
            ``(C) provide notice of the resources the Department offers 
        to veterans who may be at risk of suicide, including the 
        Veterans Crisis Line and readjustment counseling provided 
        through Vet Centers.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 2019.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.