Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright applauded the swift, unanimous House passage of H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act – bipartisan legislation originally introduced in the 113th Congress – to address the epidemic of suicide among our nation’s veterans. 

“One veteran lost to suicide is one veteran too many,” said Rep. Cartwright.  “This bipartisan legislation provides our heroes the care and support they have earned and deserve to overcome mental health challenges, traumatic brain injuries, and post-traumatic stress disorder.  I was proud to support this legislation to ensure our nation stands behind our brave veterans with compassion and dedication every day.”

Twenty-two veterans commit suicide daily – more than 8,000 every year.  Of the more than 2 million Americans who have served in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is estimated that one-third, roughly 600,000 women and men, have traumatic brain injury, PTSD or depression.  Named in honor of late Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran and noted suicide prevention advocate who committed suicide on March 31, 2011, H.R. 203 is another step toward ensuring our nation’s veterans have the support they need by expanding access to and improving the effectiveness of mental health care for our veterans.

The bill has the support of veterans’ service organizations, including the Military Officers Association of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. If passed, it would:

• Increase access to mental health care for veterans by establishing a peer support and community outreach pilot program to assist transitioning service members with accessing VA mental health care services.
• Require the VA to create an interactive website to serve as an information hub for all mental health services for veterans.
• Help to address the shortage of mental health care professionals by authorizing the VA to conduct pilot programs aimed at recruiting and retaining psychiatrists.
• Require annual independent evaluations of all mental health care and suicide prevention practices and programs at the VA and to make recommendations to improve care.

The bill was introduced by Representative Tim Walz (D-MN), the highest ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in Congress and co-authored by Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Committee Jeff Miller (R-FL) and Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a Purple Heart recipient, Iraq War veteran, and member of the Army National Guard.