Alongside Reps. Greg Landsman (D-OH), Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), and Chris Deluzio (D-PA), I reintroduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen suicide prevention and mental health support for veterans. The What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act will require the VA to establish and implement best practices for suicide prevention pilots and grant programs.

The VA Secretary would be responsible for setting clear and measurable objectives for funding and programs, and evaluating how effective those funding and programs are in achieving those objectives. This would help ensure millions of dollars in federal funding and programs are directed toward the most effective initiatives designed to prevent veteran suicide.

I have lost many friends and teammates to suicide, and until we are using every available resource to prevent it, we are simply not doing enough. This bill ensures the VA is focused on proven, effective programs to combat veteran suicide. One veteran lost is one too many — we owe it to them to get this right.

“We are reintroducing this bill because it will save countless lives. Too many veterans are dying by suicide every day, and we have to do more to prevent it. If we focus the VA’s resources on the most effective programs, we can make a significant impact in reducing these heartbreaking and entirely unacceptable rates of veteran suicide. Our veterans deserve the best care possible,” said Rep. Landsman.

"Veteran suicide is a crisis we cannot afford to ignore. As someone who’s worn the uniform and served alongside some of the best this country has to offer, I’m committed to driving that number down to zero. Reintroducing this bill is about accountability and results. We need to know which programs are actually saving lives so we can invest in what works and get our veterans the support they deserve,” said Rep. Luttrell.

“We have got to use all of the tested and effective tactics available to take on the suicide crisis facing America’s veterans,” said Rep. Deluzio. “I am grateful to partner with Congressman Landsman to introduce this legislation that would create more guidelines for suicide prevention pilots and outreach through the VA. I will never stop fighting to protect and serve my fellow veterans.”

To read the full bill text, click here.

The What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act has been endorsed by the national Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Save A Warrior.