[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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