East Central Texas News

November 9, 2023

Today, Congressman Jake Ellzey (R-TX-06) and Representative Jason Crow (D-CO-06) reintroduced the Veterans' Sentinel Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the issue of suicide among US veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. The bill seeks to improve the accuracy of data collection and enhance congressional oversight, following an investigation that revealed inaccuracies in the VA's reporting of suicides on campus.

According to the investigation, veterans, who make up less than eight percent of the population, accounted for a disproportionate 13.5% of all suicide deaths among adults in the US in 2022. The VA's inaccurate reporting of on-campus suicides has hindered efforts to provide appropriate care for veterans in crisis. The reintroduction of the Veterans' Sentinel Act aims to rectify this situation by ensuring a clear understanding of the number of veterans seeking to take their own lives and improving their access to care.

Congressman Crow emphasized the importance of bipartisan efforts to increase oversight and improve the VA's response to veterans' suicide. He stated, "After my military service, I came home to fight for veterans in our community. Too often, we’ve seen how an overly bureaucratic VA system prevents our veterans and their families from receiving the quality care our nation promised. I won’t stand by and allow the VA to fail our veterans in crisis. I’m glad to renew our bipartisan efforts to increase oversight and improve the VA's response to veterans' suicide. Any way we can protect their lives, we must."

Congressman Ellzey, who has made veterans a top priority in his legislative agenda, expressed his commitment to addressing the issue of veteran suicide. He stated, "Since the first day I took the oath of office, I have put veterans as a top priority of my legislative agenda. Twenty-two veterans die from suicide every day, and this is unacceptable. The Veterans' Sentinel Act would create a two-year pilot program in coordination with the VA's Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention to help combat this and save the lives of our veterans. It is only fitting that we as Americans take care of those who have taken care of us, and I am proud to work with my friend Representative Crow on this endeavor."

The Veterans' Sentinel Act has garnered endorsements from several veteran organizations, including VoteVets, Concerned Veterans for America, The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., Union Veterans Council, and Disabled American Veterans. Steve Kjonaas, the Legislative Director of the Colorado Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, "The Veterans of Foreign Wars endorses the Veterans’ Sentinel Act, which paves the way for crucial guidance aimed at enhancing the Department of Veterans Affairs' efforts to combat suicide. By prioritizing comprehensive data-driven solutions, we are taking a significant stride toward safeguarding the well-being of our revered veterans."

The Veterans' Sentinel Act includes several key provisions to address the issue of veteran suicide. It will create a two-year pilot program working group within the VA's Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP) focused specifically on veteran on-campus suicide and attempted suicides. This working group will consist of representatives from relevant VA offices and will aim to improve coordination and utilize proven analytic methodology and tools to determine the root causes of incidents. Additionally, the bill will require the VA Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress detailing on-campus veteran suicides and suicide attempts, along with trend analysis and recommendations for improving prevention efforts. Finally, the legislation directs the Comptroller General to conduct a review of the OMHSP and submit a report to Congress detailing the office's actions to prevent veteran suicide, identifying challenges, and providing recommendations for improvement.

With the reintroduction of the Veterans' Sentinel Act, Congressman Ellzey and Representative Crow are taking important steps to address the urgent issue of suicide among US veterans and improve the care and support available to them. By enhancing data collection and congressional oversight, this bipartisan legislation seeks to save the lives of those who have bravely served our nation.

Source: [Congressman Ellzey's Website](https://ellzey.house.gov/2023/11/congressman-ellzey-joins-rep-crow-in-reintroducing-bill-to-improve-reporting-of-veterans-suicide-at-va-and-enhance-congressional-oversight)

Click this link to access more information: https://ellzey.house.gov/2023/11/congressman-ellzey-joins-rep-crow-in-reintroducing-bill-to-improve-reporting-of-veterans-suicide-at-va-and-enhance-congressional-oversight