Press Releases

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA) announced the introduction of H.R. 9449, the Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act, a bipartisan bill to address and reduce the number of veteran suicides. This legislation is designed to increase the number of Community Care Network providers who have completed evidence-based suicide prevention training that is administered by the VA. H.R. 9449 will also create a publicly available Preferred Provider List increasing transparency while allowing veterans to choose a provider that best meets their needs.

“When our soldiers come home at the end of their service, it doesn’t mean they have left the battlefield,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “The Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act will help ensure the men and women who served our nation have better access to high-quality mental health care resources. This bipartisan bill will improve outcomes, strengthen the veteran community, and save lives by ensuring more providers in Community Care Networks are using evidence-based training to reduce the number of veteran suicides.”

“Our veterans served our nation selflessly. Those men and women deserve access to the highest-quality mental health care available—and we have a duty to deliver it,” Congressman Lou Correa said. “When these heroes return home, they often wield invisible wounds that can put them at increased risk of veteran suicide. These men and women deserve health care providers that have the best training possible for suicide prevention, and this legislation will make that a reality for millions of veterans across this great nation.”

“Evidence-based therapies have proven to be highly effective in treating suicide-related thoughts and behaviors. DAV thanks Rep. Huizenga for introducing the "the Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act”, which would establish a  ‘preferred provider list’ for veterans to be informed on which community care network providers can deliver the highest effective care they deserve, by sharing which healthcare providers have completed annual, evidence-based training on the prevention of suicide among veterans.” Joy Ilem, National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

"Veterans at risk for suicide deserve providers with the best training in suicide prevention, as is the standard of care for VA providers. This bill takes an important step towards ensuring all healthcare providers serving those who served our country meet that standard." Jennifer Presnall-Shvorin, President, Association of VA Psychologist Leaders (AVAPL)

Background:

Tragically, according to the VA’s 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, more than 17 veterans per day take their own lives. The latest data from the VA also shows the suicide rate among veterans increased by 11.6% from 2020 to 2021.

When the VA is unable to provide the necessary or timely care for veterans, providers in local communities outside the Veterans Health Administration network step up, forming the VA Community Care Network.  While Veterans Health Administration employees are required to take VA-administered evidence-based suicide prevention training, employees of Community Care Networks are not required to receive veterans-specific suicide prevention training, and many do not.

The latest report found those receiving care directly through the Veterans Health Administration had lower suicide rates than those receiving care only through the Community Care Network in both 2020 and 2021. The Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act seeks to increase the number of employees in the Community Care Network who receive the VA-administered evidence-based suicide prevention training utilized by the Veterans Health Administration.

The Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act is currently supported by: Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Association of VA Psychologist Leaders (AVAPL), and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)