Rep. Susie Lee, Sen. Jacky Rosen Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to End Veteran Suicide

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Susie Lee (D-NV) and U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), along with Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), and Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), announced the introduction of HR 6273 the bipartisan VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act of 2021. This bill would launch the Zero Suicide Initiative Pilot Program at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The Zero Suicide Initiative, a concept and program founded by the Henry Ford Health Care System, is a program built on the belief that all suicides are preventable through proper care, patient safety, and systems-focused efforts. This legislation would build on the VA's strong suicide prevention efforts by implementing more comprehensive, systems-focused Zero Suicide efforts in pilot programs at five VA medical centers across the country.

"Every day in this country, seventeen veterans take their own lives – but even one is too much," said Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV). "We need to do everything in our power to bring veteran deaths by suicide to zero. Of the 17 veteran deaths by suicide each day, on average, seven are among active VA patients. While we must ensure all our veterans are getting the mental health care and the resources they need, we must make a commitment to eliminating deaths by suicide among those within the VA system's care. The Zero Suicide Initiative offers a proven, system-wide approach to close gaps, improve communication, and increase accountability within the VA, so that no veteran slips through the cracks. The goal is to expand this program to reach every veteran in America. For those men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom, both Democrats and Republicans have to come together to support this bill. We all acknowledge that we owe each and every veteran all the resources they need to recover from the wounds of war – visible and invisible."

"Nevada's veterans deserve to have all the support they need after sacrificing so much to serve our country, and that includes better access to critical mental health services," said Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV). "With veteran suicide rates 50% higher than those for non-veteran adults, it's urgent that we tackle this issue. Our bipartisan legislation will help VA medical centers implement a Zero Suicide framework that delivers comprehensive treatment and prevents veterans who are struggling from falling through the cracks."

"We need to find ways to lower suicide rates among veterans and get the brave men and women who fought for our country help when they need it," said Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). "Our bill establishes a pilot program aimed at lowering suicide risk for VA patients and improving mental health, safety, and suicide care for veterans."

"After serving our country, no veteran should feel that they lack access to the lifesaving mental health treatment they may need," said Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH). "I am glad to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation that will launch a Zero Suicide Initiative Pilot Program at the VA. This program has seen wide success at other health care facilities and its implementation at the VA is critical to combat the troubling rise of veteran suicide."

"We can never repay our debt of gratitude to those who have served our country which is why we must keep our promise to veterans when they return home," said Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX). "We have an urgent need to address veteran suicide, and we must be considering innovative solutions that are backed up with strong evidence to ensure we don't lose any more veterans. That is why I'm so honored to co-lead the introduction of this bill that will establish a pilot program to see how we can best serve our veterans to prevent veteran suicide."

"As a veteran, I know not all our injuries are physical," said Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX). "On average, we lose 17 veterans to suicide every day – and that's 17 too many. The VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Act works to bolster VA suicide prevention efforts and improves the way our VA system approaches mental health."

"With the aim of bringing veteran suicide deaths to zero, the American Psychiatric Association enthusiastically supports the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act. By implementing Zero Suicide pilot programs at five VA medical centers across the country, the legislation would increase access to safer and concurrent suicide care," said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. "Bringing the Zero Suicide model of care to our veterans will help foster a cultural shift toward comprehensive suicide treatment and represent an important step in our ongoing effort to give those who defend our country the support and resources they deserve."

"AFSP commends Representatives Lee, Gonzales, Allred, and Gonzalez on the introduction of the bipartisan VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act of 2021," said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Senior Vice President for Public Policy for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. "Veterans are at a much higher risk of dying by suicide than non-Veteran populations, so the Zero Suicide Initiative pilot program could be an innovative prevention tool that will provide valuable resources and supports to Veterans at risk for suicide. AFSP is pleased to support this legislation, and urges Congress to take action to support Veterans healthcare."

"We must do more to support those who have sacrificed on behalf of our country," said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. "We are grateful for the introduction of the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act, which will help veterans who struggle with invisible wounds by improving access to critical suicide prevention programs."

"It's simply unacceptable that veterans are twice more likely to die by suicide than those who never served, and it should be a national priority to get the veteran suicide rate to as close to zero as possible," said Disabled American Veterans National Commander Andy Marshall. "DAV proudly supports this important bipartisan legislation, and we're hopeful that the Zero Suicide Initiative framework will be a powerful tool in reducing these entirely preventable tragedies."

"The VFW supports the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act of 2021 because this is an evidence-based suicide solution," said Tammy Barlet, Deputy Director at Veterans of Foreign Wars. "This multi-layered approach consists of continuous suicide screening at all health care touchpoints and suicide specific treatments while maintaining consistent communication with the veteran. Removing the stigma of discussing suicide and fostering a healthy conversation can lead to a goal of zero suicide."

"The Nevada Veterans Association is pleased to support this bipartisan legislation that places our VA centers in a position of action to create and expand Veteran suicide preventative measures," said Donna Lee, President of the Nevada Veterans Association.

National Endorsing Organizations:

Student Veterans of America

Veterans of Foreign Wars

International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses (ISPN)

American Psychiatric Association (APA)

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

Nevada Endorsing Organizations:

Nevada Veterans Association

Forgotten Not Gone

Women Veterans of Nevada

You can learn more about the bipartisan VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act of 2021 here.

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