[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 21, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4041-H4042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




FOSTERING INTERGOVERNMENTAL HEALTH TRANSPARENCY IN VETERAN SUICIDES ACT

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2340) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide 
to Congress notice of any suicide or attempted suicide of a veteran in 
a Department of Veterans Affairs facility, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2340

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

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

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

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David P. 
Roe) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 2340, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, since the beginning of this year, seven--seven--
veterans have died by suicide in or on the grounds of VA facilities. 
Sadly, another suicide occurred at a VA hospital in Washington just 
this weekend.
  Currently, VA staff notify both the House and Senate Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the events as a matter of courtesy; however, 
should the Department's leadership change, there is no assurance this 
courtesy would continue.
  I have made veteran suicide prevention the top priority for the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs because 20 suicides a day is far too 
many. One suicide is far too many. But to address this alarming trend, 
Congress must be informed when a suicide occurs on a VA campus and must 
be provided all relevant data.
  This information will allow the committee to conduct appropriate 
oversight, write legislation that will improve outcomes, and, when 
necessary, hold individuals accountable when there are clear failures 
that impact the timely and adequate care for veterans.
  As such, H.R. 2340, as amended, the FIGHT Veteran Suicides Act, would 
require the VA Secretary to notify Congress following an attempted or a 
completed suicide by a veteran in or on the grounds of a VA facility.
  This measure also requires VA to provide Congress with communications 
guidance to deter the sensationalism of suicide, provide information on 
identifying the warning signs often exhibited by veterans at risk of 
suicide, and identify resources offered by the Department for at-risk 
veterans, including the Veterans Crisis Line and Vet Center 
readjustment counseling.
  It is essential that this information be shared, regardless of 
leadership at

[[Page H4042]]

VA, what party controls Congress, or who occupies the White House.
  I thank Congressman Rose, a combat veteran, for leading the fight 
against this tragic national public health crisis, and I want to 
commend him for his leadership and for writing this important 
legislation that will ensure Congress has all the data it needs to 
truly understand and reduce veteran suicide.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2340, as amended, the 
FIGHT Veteran Suicides Act.
  This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to report 
to the local congressional delegation, as well as to the committee, 
whenever a veteran attempts or dies by suicide in or on the grounds of 
a VA facility.
  We have all heard the heartbreaking stories of veterans who have died 
by suicide on VA campuses, including five veteran suicide deaths in the 
last several weeks alone. There is no indication that these events 
represent an increase in the rate of suicide among servicemembers and 
veterans, but they are particularly poignant because they occur so 
close to help and appear to be an indictment on the healthcare system 
that was created to support them.
  To be clear, suicide is a national public health crisis that is not 
unique to VA, the military, or veterans. However, we must pay careful 
attention to the incidents of suicide among those who have served and 
sacrificed on our behalf and do everything we can to point those in 
crisis to the resources they need to recover from the traumas and live 
long, full, healthy lives.
  I am grateful to Congressman Max Rose from New York for sponsoring 
this bill, which will allow us to learn all we can about the suicides 
that occur on VA campuses so that we can take action that may save 
other lives in the future.
  I encourage all Members to support this much-needed piece of 
legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I, too, ask my colleagues to join me in 
passing H.R. 2340, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2340, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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