[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 5 (Monday, January 12, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H196-H201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CLAY HUNT SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR AMERICAN VETERANS ACT

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 203) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
provide for the conduct of annual evaluations of mental health care and 
suicide prevention programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to 
require a pilot program on loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree 
to serve in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 203

       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 ``Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention 
     for American Veterans Act'' or the ``Clay Hunt SAV Act''.

     SEC. 2. EVALUATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND SUICIDE 
                   PREVENTION PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) Evaluations.--
       (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 1709B. Evaluations of mental health care and suicide 
       prevention programs

       ``(a) Evaluations.--(1) Not less frequently than once 
     during each period specified in paragraph (3), the Secretary 
     shall provide for the conduct of an evaluation of the mental 
     health care and suicide prevention programs carried out under 
     the laws administered by the Secretary.
       ``(2) Each evaluation conducted under paragraph (1) shall--
       ``(A) use metrics that are common among and useful for 
     practitioners in the field of mental health care and suicide 
     prevention;
       ``(B) identify the most effective mental health care and 
     suicide prevention programs conducted by the Secretary, 
     including such programs conducted at a Center of Excellence;
       ``(C) identify the cost-effectiveness of each program 
     identified under subparagraph (B);
       ``(D) measure the satisfaction of patients with respect to 
     the care provided under each such program; and
       ``(E) propose best practices for caring for individuals who 
     suffer from mental health disorders or are at risk of 
     suicide, including such practices conducted or suggested by 
     other departments or agencies of the Federal Government, 
     including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
     Administration of the Department of Health and Human 
     Services.
       ``(3) The periods specified in this paragraph are the 
     following:
       ``(A) The period beginning on the date on which the 
     Secretary awards the contract under paragraph (4) and ending 
     on September 30, 2018.
       ``(B) Each fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 
     2018.
       ``(4) Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this section, the Secretary shall seek to enter 
     into a contract with an independent third party unaffiliated 
     with the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct 
     evaluations under paragraph (1).
       ``(5) The independent third party that is awarded the 
     contract under paragraph (4) shall submit to the Secretary 
     each evaluation conducted under paragraph (1).
       ``(b) Annual Submission.--Not later than December 1, 2018, 
     and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report that contains the following:
       ``(1) The most recent evaluations submitted to the 
     Secretary under subsection (a)(5) that the Secretary has not 
     previously submitted to such Committees.
       ``(2) Any recommendations the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 1709A the following new item:

``1709B. Evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention 
              programs.''.
       (b) Interim Reports.--Not later than September 30 of each 
     of 2016 and 2017, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
     coordination with the independent third party awarded a 
     contract by the Secretary pursuant to section 1709B(a)(4) of 
     title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the mental health care and 
     suicide prevention programs carried out under the laws 
     administered by the Secretary that includes, with respect to 
     each such program, the following:
       (1) A description of the program.
       (2) The number of veterans served by the program.
       (3) The budget of the program.
       (4) The number of full-time equivalent employees assigned 
     to the program.
       (5) Whether veterans may repeat participation in the 
     program or participate in the program in addition to other 
     similar programs.
       (6) Any study results or research published regarding the 
     efficacy of the program.
       (7) Any other information the Secretary determines 
     appropriate.

     SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF INTERNET WEBSITE TO PROVIDE 
                   INFORMATION REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE 
                   SERVICES.

       (a) In General.--Using funds made available to the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs to publish the Internet 
     websites of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary 
     shall survey the existing Internet websites and information 
     resources of the Department to publish an Internet website 
     that serves as a centralized source to provide veterans with 
     information regarding all of the mental health care services 
     provided by the Secretary.
       (b) Elements.--The Internet website published under 
     subsection (a) shall provide to veterans information 
     regarding all of the mental health care services available in 
     the Veteran Integrated Service Network that the veteran is 
     seeking such services, including, with respect to each 
     medical center, Vet Center (as defined in section 1712A of 
     title 38, United States Code), and community-based outpatient 
     center in the Veterans Integrated Service Network--
       (1) the name and contact information of each social work 
     office;
       (2) the name and contact information of each mental health 
     clinic;
       (3) a list of appropriate staff; and
       (4) any other information the Secretary determines 
     appropriate.
       (c) Updated Information.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
     the information described in subsection (b) that is published 
     on the Internet website under subsection (a) is updated not 
     less than once every 90 days.
       (d) Outreach.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
     shall ensure that the outreach conducted under section 
     1720F(i) of title 38, United States Code, includes 
     information regarding the Internet website published under 
     subsection (a).

     SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM FOR REPAYMENT OF EDUCATIONAL LOANS FOR 
                   CERTAIN PSYCHIATRISTS OF VETERANS HEALTH 
                   ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     carry out a pilot program to repay loans of individuals 
     described in subsection (b) that--
       (1) were used by such individuals to finance education 
     relating to psychiatric medicine, including education leading 
     to--
       (A) a degree of doctor of medicine; or
       (B) a degree of doctor of osteopathy; and
       (2) were obtained from any of the following:
       (A) A governmental entity.
       (B) A private financial institution.
       (C) A school.
       (D) Any other authorized entity as determined by the 
     Secretary.
       (b) Eligible Individuals.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an individual 
     eligible for participation in the pilot program is an 
     individual who--
       (A) either--
       (i) is licensed or eligible for licensure to practice 
     psychiatric medicine in the Veterans Health Administration of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs; or
       (ii) is enrolled in the final year of a residency program 
     leading to a specialty qualification in psychiatric medicine 
     that is approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate 
     Medical Education; and
       (B) demonstrates a commitment to a long-term career as a 
     psychiatrist in the Veterans Health Administration, as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       (2) Prohibition on simultaneous eligibility.--An individual 
     who is participating in any other program of the Federal 
     Government that repays the educational loans of the 
     individual is not eligible to participate in the pilot 
     program.
       (c) Selection.--The Secretary shall select not less than 10 
     individuals described in subsection (b) to participate in the 
     pilot program for each year in which the Secretary carries 
     out the pilot program.
       (d) Period of Obligated Service.--The Secretary shall enter 
     into an agreement with each individual selected under 
     subsection (c) in which such individual agrees to serve a 
     period of 2 or more years of obligated service for the 
     Veterans Health Administration in the field of psychiatric 
     medicine, as determined by the Secretary.
       (e) Loan Repayments.--

[[Page H197]]

       (1) Amounts.--Subject to paragraph (2), a loan repayment 
     under this section may consist of payment of the principal, 
     interest, and related expenses of a loan obtained by an 
     individual who is participating in the pilot program for all 
     educational expenses (including tuition, fees, books, and 
     laboratory expenses) of such individual relating to education 
     described in subsection (a)(1).
       (2) Limit.--For each year of obligated service that an 
     individual who is participating in the pilot program agrees 
     to serve under subsection (d), the Secretary may pay not more 
     than $30,000 in loan repayment on behalf of such individual.
       (f) Breach.--
       (1) Liability.--An individual who participates in the pilot 
     program and fails to satisfy the period of obligated service 
     under subsection (d) shall be liable to the United States, in 
     lieu of such obligated service, for the amount that has been 
     paid or is payable to or on behalf of the individual under 
     the pilot program, reduced by the proportion that the number 
     of days served for completion of the period of obligated 
     service bears to the total number of days in the period of 
     obligated service of such individual.
       (2) Repayment period.--Any amount of damages that the 
     United States is entitled to recover under this subsection 
     shall be paid to the United States not later than 1 year 
     after the date of the breach of the agreement.
       (g) Report.--
       (1) Initial report.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
     on which the pilot program under subsection (a) commences, 
     the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives a report on the pilot 
     program.
       (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) The number of individuals who participated in the pilot 
     program, including the number of new hires.
       (B) The locations in which such individuals were employed 
     by the Department, including how many such locations were 
     rural or urban locations.
       (C) An assessment of the quality of the work performed by 
     such individuals in the course of such employment, including 
     the performance reviews of such individuals.
       (D) The number of psychiatrists the Secretary determines is 
     needed by the Department in the future.
       (3) Final report.--Not later than 90 days before the date 
     on which the pilot program terminates under subsection (i), 
     the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives an update to the report 
     submitted under paragraph (1) and any recommendations that 
     the Secretary considers appropriate.
       (h) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations 
     to carry out this section, including standards for qualified 
     loans and authorized payees and other terms and conditions 
     for the making of loan repayments.
       (i) Termination.--The authority to carry out the pilot 
     program shall expire on the date that is 3 years after the 
     date on which the Secretary commences the pilot program.

     SEC. 5. PILOT PROGRAM ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     establish a pilot program to assist veterans transitioning 
     from serving on active duty and to improve the access of 
     veterans to mental health services.
       (b) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
     program under subsection (a) at not less than five Veterans 
     Integrated Service Networks that have a large population of 
     veterans who--
       (1) served in the reserve components of the Armed Forces; 
     or
       (2) are transitioning into communities with an established 
     population of veterans after having recently separated from 
     the Armed Forces.
       (c) Functions.--The pilot program at each Veterans 
     Integrated Service Network described in subsection (b) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) A community oriented veteran peer support network, 
     carried out in partnership with an appropriate entity with 
     experience in peer support programs, that--
       (A) establishes peer support training guidelines;
       (B) develops a network of veteran peer support counselors 
     to meet the demands of the communities in the Veterans 
     Integrated Service Network;
       (C) conducts training of veteran peer support counselors;
       (D) with respect to one medical center selected by the 
     Secretary in each such Veterans Integrated Service Network, 
     has--
       (i) a designated peer support specialist who acts as a 
     liaison to the community oriented veteran peer network; and
       (ii) a certified mental health professional designated as 
     the community oriented veteran peer network mentor; and
       (E) is readily available to veterans, including pursuant to 
     the Veterans Integrated Service Network cooperating and 
     working with State and local governments and appropriate 
     entities.
       (2) A community outreach team for each medical center 
     selected by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1)(D) that--
       (A) assists veterans transitioning into communities;
       (B) establishes a veteran transition advisory group to 
     facilitate outreach activities;
       (C) includes the participation of appropriate community 
     organizations, State and local governments, colleges and 
     universities, chambers of commerce and other local business 
     organizations, and organizations that provide legal aid or 
     advice; and
       (D) coordinates with the Veterans Integrated Service 
     Network regarding the Veterans Integrated Service Network 
     carrying out an annual mental health summit to assess the 
     status of veteran mental health care in the community and to 
     develop new or innovative means to provide mental health 
     services to veterans.
       (d) Reports.--
       (1) Initial report.--Not later than 18 months after the 
     date on which the pilot program under subsection (a) 
     commences, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on 
     the pilot program. With respect to each Veterans Integrated 
     Service Network described in subsection (b), the report shall 
     include--
       (A) a full description of the peer support model 
     implemented under the pilot program, participation data, and 
     data pertaining to past and current mental health related 
     hospitalizations and fatalities;
       (B) recommendations on implementing peer support networks 
     throughout the Department;
       (C) whether the mental health resources made available 
     under the pilot program for members of the reserve components 
     of the Armed Forces is effective; and
       (D) a full description of the activities and effectiveness 
     of community outreach coordinating teams under the pilot 
     program, including partnerships that have been established 
     with appropriate entities.
       (2) Final report.--Not later than 90 days before the date 
     on which the pilot program terminates under subsection (e), 
     the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives an update to the report 
     submitted under paragraph (1).
       (e) Construction.--This section may not be construed to 
     authorize the Secretary to hire additional employees of the 
     Department to carry out the pilot program under subsection 
     (a).
       (f) Termination.--The authority of the Secretary to carry 
     out the pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on 
     the date that is 3 years after the date on which the pilot 
     program commences.

     SEC. 6. COLLABORATION ON SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS BETWEEN 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND NON-PROFIT 
                   MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS.

       (a) Collaboration.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     collaborate with non-profit mental health organizations to 
     prevent suicide among veterans as follows:
       (1) To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of suicide 
     prevention efforts carried out by the Secretary and non-
     profit mental health organizations.
       (2) To assist non-profit mental health organizations with 
     the suicide prevention efforts of such organizations through 
     the use of the expertise of employees of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs.
       (3) To jointly carry out suicide prevention efforts.
       (b) Exchange of Resources.--In carrying out any 
     collaboration under subsection (a), the Secretary and any 
     non-profit mental health organization with which the 
     Secretary is collaborating under such subsection shall 
     exchange training sessions and best practices to help with 
     the suicide prevention efforts of the Department and such 
     organization.
       (c) Director of Suicide Prevention Coordination.--The 
     Secretary shall select within the Department a Director of 
     Suicide Prevention Coordination to undertake any 
     collaboration with non-profit mental health organizations 
     under this section or any other provision of law.

     SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE FOR 
                   CERTAIN VETERANS OF COMBAT SERVICE DURING 
                   CERTAIN PERIODS OF HOSTILITIES AND WAR.

       Paragraph (3) of section 1710(e) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended to read as follows:
       ``(3) In the case of care for a veteran described in 
     paragraph (1)(D), hospital care, medical services, and 
     nursing home care may be provided under or by virtue of 
     subsection (a)(2)(F) only during the following periods:
       ``(A) Except as provided by subparagraph (B), with respect 
     to a veteran described in paragraph (1)(D) who is discharged 
     or released from the active military, naval, or air service 
     after January 27, 2003, the five-year period beginning on the 
     date of such discharge or release.
       ``(B) With respect to a veteran described in paragraph 
     (1)(D) who is discharged or released from the active 
     military, naval, or air service after January 1, 2009, and 
     before January 1, 2011, but did not enroll to receive such 
     hospital care, medical services, or nursing home care 
     pursuant to such paragraph during the five-year period 
     described in subparagraph (A), the one-year period beginning 
     on the date of the enactment of the Clay Hunt Suicide 
     Prevention for American Veterans Act.
       ``(C) With respect to a veteran described in paragraph 
     (1)(D) who is discharged or released from the active 
     military, naval, or air

[[Page H198]]

     service on or before January 27, 2003, and did not enroll in 
     the patient enrollment system under section 1705 of this 
     title on or before such date, the three-year period beginning 
     on January 27, 2008.''.

     SEC. 8. PROHIBITION ON NEW APPROPRIATIONS.

       No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and 
     this Act and such amendments shall be carried out using 
     amounts otherwise made available for such purposes.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud support of H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt 
SAV Act. This bill was introduced by my good friend and a very 
important member of the Veterans Affairs' Committee, Congressman Tim 
Walz from Minnesota. I am honored to join him and Congresswoman Tammy 
Duckworth from Illinois as an original cosponsor of this legislation. I 
am also grateful for the support of several of our military veterans' 
service organizations, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of 
America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the 
Disabled American Veterans, the Military Officers Association of 
America, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
  H.R. 203 is named after a true American hero, Clay Hunt. Clay was a 
Marine Corps veteran who served honorably in both Afghanistan and Iraq, 
where he was wounded in battle. Clay returned home grappling with 
posttraumatic stress disorder but refused to let his personal struggles 
prevent him from devoting his time to humanitarian work and advocacy on 
behalf of his fellow veterans. However, in March of 2011, at just 28 
years of age, Clay took his own life.
  With an average of 22 veterans committing suicide each day, Clay was 
far from alone in his pain, and his family and friends are far from 
alone in their heartbreak over his loss. The last several years have 
seen significant increases in the Department of Veterans Affairs' 
mental health and suicide prevention budget, staff, and programs; 
however, we have not seen a corresponding decrease in the number of our 
Nation's heroes who take their own lives. What is more, for some groups 
of veterans, including female veterans and veterans of Iraq and 
Afghanistan, suicide rates are actually getting worse.
  Mr. Speaker, we have got to do more to help these veterans access the 
supportive services and mental health care that they need to save their 
lives. With the passage of H.R. 203, we will.
  To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of VA programs and 
increase awareness of available services, H.R. 203 would require an 
annual third-party evaluation of VA's mental health care and suicide 
prevention programs and require that VA publish an interactive Web site 
to serve as a central source of information regarding VA mental health 
services.
  To increase VA's capacity to meet the mental health care needs of our 
veterans, it would establish a pilot program that would repay education 
loans for individuals who have received a degree in psychiatric 
medicine and who agree to work at the VA for at least 2 years.
  To create a seamless transition from Active Duty to veteran status 
and increased community support for those in need, it would establish 
another pilot program to assist veterans during transition and require 
VA to collaborate with nonprofit mental health organizations in the 
community.
  Importantly, H.R. 203 would extend an additional 1 year of 
eligibility for VA health care services for certain combat veterans who 
have not yet enrolled and whose 5-year combat eligibility period 
recently expired.
  Before I yield, I want to take a moment to once again express my 
condolences to Clay's family and friends as well as the families and 
friends of our honored veterans who have lost their lives to suicide. I 
want to offer them my personal commitment to continue the aggressive 
pursuit to end veteran suicide.
  The passage of this bill today is just the first in what will be a 
continuing series of legislative and oversight efforts that our 
committee is going to undertake throughout the 114th Congress to 
improve access to mental health care for veterans in need, increase the 
efficiency and effectiveness of VA's mental health and suicide 
prevention programs, and increase meaningful partnerships with 
community providers who are often the first line of defense for their 
struggling veterans and the families of those veterans.
  This bill, which passed the House last Congress, will not single-
handedly halt the scourge of veteran suicide, but it is an important 
step, and it is a step that we owe Clay and those like him who 
desperately need and certainly deserve our help.
  With that, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
203.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt SAV Act. 
This legislation passed the House last month in the closing days of the 
113th Congress. I am pleased that we were able to act on this measure 
as one of the first items of business in the 114th Congress.
  Providing the mental health care that veterans need and effectively 
dealing with the crisis of veteran suicides have been longstanding 
concerns of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. War is indeed terrible, 
and the effects of combat and service on our veterans lasts a lifetime. 
For far too long, society--and the military culture itself--has acted 
as if the need for mental health care treatment is a weakness and has 
discouraged adequate treatment. This attitude is changing, but it 
cannot change fast enough. In the area of mental health for our 
veterans and returning servicemembers, there is no easy answer or quick 
fix.
  I appreciate the work of my friend from Minnesota, Tim Walz; Chairman 
Miller; and all of my colleagues on the committee in fashioning a bill 
that I believe will make a difference in the lives of our veterans.
  H.R. 203 takes a number of important steps, including improving the 
safety net for at-risk veterans, while also introducing some 
accountability into the VA mental health care and suicide prevention 
program, using a third-party evaluation. It will provide veterans with 
a Web site that will serve as a centralized source of information on 
mental health services.
  H.R. 203 initiates a program to help address some of the glaring 
mental health personnel shortages at the VA. While the incentives in 
this bill are limited to the psychiatry field, I would like to see this 
effort expanded in the future to all the mental health professional 
shortfalls.

                              {time}  1715

  H.R. 203 would expand peer support networks, which we have heard are 
quite effectively used. And I believe the reporting requirement in this 
bill will confirm that additional resources should be permanently 
dedicated to fully utilizing peer support.
  H.R. 203 would also provide an additional window of eligibility for 
combat veterans who may have missed the window of opportunity to sign 
up for VA health care. This extra time will help to ensure that 
veterans receive the health care, including mental health care, that 
they need.
  I thank the chairman for working to bring this bill up quickly so 
that the House can act and send this important measure to the Senate. I 
look forward to working with Chairman Miller, and with Florida being 
the State with the second-largest population of veterans and the most 
senior population, I know that the committee will do a good job having 
two of the leadership team from Florida.
  But let me be clear: there are 435 Members of Congress, and each of 
them have veterans in their district, and we will work to make sure 
that all veterans get the care that they have earned and deserve.

[[Page H199]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the new ranking member 
for her words. I look forward to working with her on legislation in the 
future.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the 
Second District of Indiana, from Elkhart, Indiana (Mrs. Walorski).
  Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from 
Florida for yielding, and I am grateful to be here today to support the 
Clay Hunt SAV Act.
  Every day, 22 veterans take their own lives. We have all experienced 
this in our districts; I have as well.
  On March 31, 2011, Clay Hunt was one of those 22 veterans that day 
who took his own life. Today, we honor Clay and his family with the 
Clay Hunt SAV Act.
  Clay's story was one of bravery and dedication. He relied on the VA 
for care and received a 30 percent disability rating for PTSD brought 
on during his service. He appealed the rating and encountered a 
bureaucratic nightmare.
  Clay had to wait months to see a psychiatrist at a VA Medical Center. 
Two weeks later, Clay took his own life.
  Five weeks after his death and 18 months after filing an appeal with 
the VA for his PTSD rating, his appeal was approved.
  Clay's story details the urgency that our Nation's heroes deserve. 
The Clay Hunt SAV Act will increase access to mental health care and 
improve the quality of care troops and veterans receive.
  Together, we can change this system so that no other veteran ever has 
to endure what thousands of veterans have already gone through, 
including Clay.
  I am honored to stand here today and am grateful to my colleagues. I 
urge support for this legislation.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida has 16\1/2\ 
minutes remaining.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Walz).
  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for your support of 
this important piece of legislation.
  As you heard, we are here once again. We had a piece of legislation 
that attempted to, as I think the chairman spoke about, address an 
issue that cuts to the heart and the soul of this Nation: When our 
warriors come home, how can we reintegrate them?
  And I think it is important, and I want to thank the chairman, one, 
for working so diligently on many numerous issues, but on this piece of 
legislation, and for bringing it back up again, but I think also for 
setting an example.
  The Nation expects us to do what is right by our warriors. They 
expect us to work together to find solutions. Something that we do in 
the committee is looking and seeing where we can improve and pointing 
out where there are faults.
  But that is not good enough. Pointing out the faults is one thing, 
and it is important. Finding solutions is what really matters, and this 
piece of legislation, I think, starts to do that.
  To my colleagues who are here, I would say this. We can certainly 
disagree and disagree strongly and passionately. But I think if the 
public knew and they could feel it and, I think, in this piece of 
legislation see it, there are many more things that bind us together, 
and our care and our commitment for our warriors is one of those.
  This is a piece of legislation that wasn't just written here in the 
Halls of Congress. It was written by the families, Susan and Richard 
Selke, Clay's parents; by the Houghtalings in Minnesota; and the Kellys 
in New Ulm, Minnesota; and each of these Members that you hear speak 
about it.
  Since we passed this legislation, and it failed in the Senate, over 
750 veterans have taken their lives.
  Many times down here, we feel like everything we do is the most 
important thing that needs to happen now. Rarely is that true. In this 
case, it is.
  We can't wait another day. We can't pass this problem forward because 
it is not only ripping at families, it is ripping at our Nation. These 
are our best and brightest.
  You heard about Clay. Clay's a Marine who went to Iraq. He got shot 
by a sniper and, as a Marine, that irritated him. It didn't hurt him. 
He came back. He had his Purple Heart, and he could have come back and 
taken our thank yous. He didn't. He went to Afghanistan to continue on.
  He knew the extremism that was threatening Iraq and Afghanistan would 
some day threaten this Nation, so he was forward. He did his time.
  After he came back, that wasn't enough. He went to Haiti to help. 
After that, that wasn't enough. He sat in our offices on numerous 
occasions working on everything from access to the VA to the things you 
heard the gentlelady talk about in Indiana that were causing 
frustration amongst our veterans.
  And I think for me the thing is, like for so many of us, Clay 
appeared to have everything. He appeared that he knew and was competent 
and had it there, but we all know that they have demons, and Clay had 
demons.
  So what this piece of legislation does--you heard the specifics, and 
it does do specific things, and no one is claiming that this is going 
to be the fix.
  But I would make the case that what the Clay Hunt bill has done and 
what it has done amongst our partners in the veterans service 
organizations is made it absolutely clear we will not leave anyone 
behind. We will not turn a blind eye to this, and we will not rest 
until we at least make the attempt to get that number down to zero. We 
may never get there, but this piece of legislation starts to address 
it.
  So I think it is important, and I want to thank the ranking member 
for being on this bill and putting it forward, and the chairman, who 
was an original author of this and has been instrumental in making it 
happen.
  What we are doing here is not just passing legislation. What we are 
doing here is changing the attitudes, focusing the Nation's attention 
on this, because I don't care if it is Elkhart, Indiana, if it is 
Pensacola, Florida, or if it is Mankato, Minnesota.
  When we go to talk to our constituents, regardless of their political 
leanings, they tell us, take care of our warriors, do what is right. 
Fix the system.
  This piece of legislation does that. It does it in a cost-effective, 
smart manner, and we have got the opportunity to start moving forward.
  I would say and encourage my colleagues, let's pass this thing, but 
let's not see it as an end result of a process we have been working on. 
Let's see it as the first of many things to try and make changes to be 
smarter about how we use taxpayer dollars, but also to demand 
effectiveness, because Clay's parents deserve that. Thousands of others 
across this Nation deserve that.
  The more than 1 million veterans that will return over the next few 
years are counting on us to put everything in place to provide that 
help.
  So I encourage my colleagues, support this legislation. I encourage 
my colleagues, take this as an example.
  I want to thank Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader McCarthy for 
making it a priority. I think it speaks volumes. This piece of 
legislation is on the floor in the first week. That says something, 
that there is a commitment to getting it right, there is a commitment 
to working together, and there is a commitment to showing effectiveness 
for the American people.
  So, we have got that opportunity. I ask my colleagues to support this 
legislation, get engaged with what is happening with our veterans, and 
let's prove that their service was not in vain, that this democracy is 
strong, that our commitment to them is unwavering and that, at the end 
of the day, that is what really matters.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful for the opportunity to again tell you 
about a very important piece of legislation that will help in our fight 
to improve mental health care for our returning warriors: H.R. 203, the 
Clay Hunt SAV Act. I'd like to thank the Chairman of the House Veterans 
Affairs Committee, Mr. Miller, and Rep. Duckworth for continuing to be 
my partners in this effort. I'd also like to thank Speaker Boehner for 
bringing this to the floor swiftly. And, a big thank you to Senators 
McCain, Burr, Blumenthal, and Isakson for all their work on the SAV 
Act. Most importantly, I'd like to thank Clay's parents, Susan and 
Richard Selke. They are holding Congress' feet to the fire to make sure 
we get this done and to prevent another family from going through what 
they continue to go

[[Page H200]]

through each and every day. We cannot let them down.
  H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, 
is an example of how we can work together on Capitol Hill. The 
legislation is named in honor of Iraq and Afghanistan War Veteran and 
suicide prevention advocate, Clay Hunt. Clay epitomized what it meant 
to live a life of service, both in and out of uniform. He helped 
countless veterans overcome their demons but tragically took his own 
life in March of 2011. The legacy he left behind, however, will live on 
for generations to come.
  The bill you see before you was the result of strong partnerships 
with our veteran service organizations, strong bipartisan efforts here 
in Congress, and the resolve of Clay's parents pushing and pushing and 
pushing to get this thing done. This bill is what you get when you have 
folks sitting around the table, trusting one another, and working 
together to get it right for our nation's veterans.
  Our premise for this bill was simple: suicide occurs because many 
vets return to their community and then disconnect from it. So, we 
wanted to create a bill that would get the communities involved and 
coordinated. We also knew it would be important to increase both 
oversight of the VA and their capacity to deal with over a million 
veterans returning from war.
  Specifically, the bill:
  1. Establishes a peer support and community outreach pilot program to 
assist transitioning servicemembers with accessing VA mental health 
care services.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Requires yearly evaluations--with interim reports due in the first 
two years and a final report due the third year and every year after--
conducted by a third party, of all mental health care and suicide 
prevention practices and programs at the VA to find out what is working 
and what's not working and to make recommendations to improve care. 
Authorizes a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the 
transition of care for PTSD and TBI between the DoD and the VA.
  One veteran lost to suicide is one too many. With many of our 
warriors returning from war, all too often our heroes return only to 
face a war of their own at home. While there is no bill that will 
completely end veteran suicide, this bipartisan measure is a step in 
the right direction. In short, it's a start towards fixing a problem, 
but we must not lose focus on this problem after passing this bill. We 
must continue working to improve care for our veterans. I urge my 
colleagues to support this measure so that we can send it over to the 
Senate and onto the President swiftly.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from the Sixth District of Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello), a new 
member of the committee, who, in his first week, has already jumped in 
with both feet. Mr. Costello has been to my office and started looking 
closely at the oversight agenda that we have.
  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. I thank the distinguished gentleman 
from Florida for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to express my support of Congressman 
Tim Walz's Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act.
  It is a privilege to serve on the House Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs and in this Congress, to work to improve the quality of life 
for our Nation's veterans, their families, and their caregivers.
  In the coming months, I look forward to working in a bipartisan, 
commonsense manner with dedicated Members and veterans like my 
colleague from Minnesota (Mr. Walz) to find solutions to help our 
Nation's veterans transition to civilian life.
  One of the most critical areas that we as a committee and Congress 
must work to establish is comprehensive, timely, responsive, and 
effective mental health care services for our post-
9/11 veterans, many of whom have served our country for multiple 
deployments in conditions not witnessed or experienced by any other 
generation of soldier.
  This bill first prioritizes bringing accountability to the VA. By 
bringing in a third party to conduct an annual evaluation within the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, we can better provide agency 
accountability by doing just this.
  Second, we must provide better access to mental health services for 
our veterans and their families. This bill does just that.
  Finally, it helps facilitate and increase awareness for peer and 
community support providers for our veterans and their families.
  This commonsense legislation works towards those priorities of 
providing an accountable and supportive VA for our veterans, in 
furtherance of helping veterans get the best treatment possible.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support this commonsense legislation to promote mental health support 
for our Nation's heroes and thank Congressman Walz for his leadership 
on this important legislation.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, this is an appropriate and wonderful 
statement of two distinguished Members of Congress, the chairman and 
ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I associate 
myself with their words on how crucial this legislation is, and what an 
important statement the Veterans' Affairs Committee is making: that 
there is no party affiliation when it comes to saving the lives of our 
men and women who put on the uniform.
  To the author of this bill, Mr. Walz, as I chatted with him on the 
floor, I indicated to him that just this weekend I met for hours with 
two wounded warriors, both of them having experience with PTSD, both of 
them being challenged about the transition into civilian life, both of 
them knowing of this legislation, feeling left out and deprived that it 
did not, despite the valiant effort of this House, pass in the last 
Congress.
  So let me congratulate all of you for recognizing that this is a 
crucial, lifesaving element of the men and women that we stand and 
admire and love. Every day, 22 veterans take their lives, but it is 
8,000 a year.
  And if I might say, Texas walks alongside of Florida and other States 
in having the highest number of returning vets. Two million served in 
Iraq and Afghanistan across the Nation. Now, one-third, 600,000, have 
experienced traumatic brain injury and PTSD.
  From the early years of working with then-Chairman and Ranking Member 
Murtha, I was privileged to bring $1 million to my district for PTSD, 
but that is not the heart of it.
  The bleeding and the sorrow of these men and women is not befitting 
of the service and the uniform that they put on. Not one moment should 
they wait at a veterans hospital for treatment for PTSD that should 
keep them grounded. Not one moment should they be alone contemplating 
suicide, without treatment and friends and family having assistance.
  This bill makes that statement, H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt SAV Act. It 
says that you are not alone and that we have put our actions where our 
words are. We have walked the walk.
  So I want to say to those wounded warriors who shared their heart 
with me, proudly come back and say: This bill is moving, and as it 
moves to the United States Senate, this bill is moving. And as we look 
to the President's desk, a signature will allow this bill to be in 
place.
  To those who missed the deadline, this law will allow you to still be 
able to receive that treatment because it allows an extended time for 
those who have missed the deadline.
  I know as I go back home to Texas and meet families that they are 
looking for action when it comes to our beloved veterans and those who 
have put on the uniform to serve this Nation as they watched their 
comrades die. This is a bill that says, God bless America.

                              {time}  1730

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield an additional 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. This is a bill that reflects the Constitution, the 
Declaration of Independence, and our wonderful Pledge of Allegiance to 
the flag of the United States of America.
  I want to say to my friends at Ellington Field, which is just down 
the road

[[Page H201]]

from my congressional district, and to the many bases across the State 
of Texas that have amongst their ranks veterans who have served in 
Active Duty and who are still pressing forward in spite of conditions 
that they face, this is the bill that provides the answer and the love 
and affection for the veterans and military personnel who have put on 
the uniform every day and who have never--never once--shied away from 
their duty and decided that their lives and their ills were greater 
than their commitment to this Nation.
  We owe them this. This is a ``God bless America'' bill. I thank the 
proponents of it.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the 
ranking member how many speakers she has left.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. The last speaker just finished. I have no 
additional speakers.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. We have no additional speakers either, so we 
are prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  It is unacceptable that 22 veterans are dying by suicide every day. 
We need to pull all stakeholders together to work as a group to solve 
the problem. There is not one cause and not one answer. There are a 
multitude of answers and a multitude of causes and solutions.
  The Department of Defense, the VA, and the veterans service 
organizations need to work together to come up with many solutions that 
will meet the needs. There is not one solution but many. I pledge to 
work with my colleague from Minnesota and Chairman Miller to address 
the issues in the upcoming session.
  Access to mental health care and benefits for our veterans is an 
issue I plan to focus on in the months ahead, and I look forward to 
working with all of my colleagues to ensure that veterans are given the 
benefits and services that they have earned.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking 
member, and certainly, I want to thank the chairman. I won't take the 2 
minutes, but I want to thank them for their incredible cooperation on 
this most important of issues.
  Derek Denfeld, from my district, lost his life. There has been 
sadness and the coming together of the community. Our hearts go out to 
his wife, Heather; to his son, Felix; and certainly to his parents, Deb 
and Chris, whom I know personally.
  I thank the ranking member. I thank the sergeant major for his 
sponsorship of this bill, and I thank the ranking member and the 
chairman for what is an important piece of legislation.
  As noted, we can't wait another day for this to take effect.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I appreciate the 
comments from both sides of the aisle, and I look forward to working 
with all of our colleagues on future issues as they relate to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and, in particular, the SAV Act.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased that my colleagues 
unanimously agreed during the 113th Congress that we must act to combat 
Veteran suicide and I am grateful that we are acting quickly in the 
first days of the 114th Congress to address this critical unfinished 
business. The statistics are heartbreaking. An average of 22 Veterans 
commit suicide every day. So each day that we delay action is a day we 
cannot afford. I was proud to help introduce HR. 5059, Clay Hunt 
Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act with Chairman Jeff Miller 
and Representative Tim Walz. While there is no bill that will 
completely end Veteran suicide, this comprehensive measure is a step in 
the right direction. It will remove barriers that prevent our nation's 
heroes from getting the quality, timely mental health care that they 
deserve. It is my sincere hope that my colleagues in the Senate will 
take note of the momentum in the House and bring this legislation to 
the Senate Floor as soon as possible.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 203.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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