May 21, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 85 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
All in House sectionPrev64 of 126Next
FOSTERING INTERGOVERNMENTAL HEALTH TRANSPARENCY IN VETERAN SUICIDES ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 85
(House of Representatives - May 21, 2019)
Text available as:
Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[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. ____________________
All in House sectionPrev64 of 126Next